At least nine motorists have been arrested since the beginning of February for excessive speeding in the province. On February 02, 2017 Mr. Vusi Mkhwatshwa was nabbed on the N4 Road near Gorge for exceeding the speed limit of 100 km/h by 169 km/h. On the same day, Mr. Siyabonga Khoza was also arrested on the same spot driving at 143 km/h. Both motorists have been found guilty by the Matsulu Magistrate Court and were fined R1500 each.
On February 03, 2017 traffic officers arrested five drivers. Mr. Thelonius Mmutle was arrested on the N3 Toll Road between Heidelberg and Villiers driving 205 km/h at a 120 km/h zone. One the same spot, Mr. Sibusiso Ncama was nabbed exceeding with 169 km/h. Both motorists were granted R1500 bail and will appear again in court on 28 February 2017 and 23 February 2017 respectively.
On the same day, Mr. Simao Davide exceeded 100 km/h with 143 km/h on N4 Toll Road near Gorge and Mr. Sipho Ntshali exceeded 120 km/h by 169 km/h on N4 Road between Witbank and Middelburg. Later on the same day, traffic officers arrested Mr. Ganyani Tawanda near Copersdal on the N4 Toll Road for exceeding 80 km/h by 126 km/h. Mr. Tawanda was granted a R1000 bail and will appear before the Komatipoort Magistrate Court tomorrow [07 February 2015].
On February 05, 2017 Mr. Happy Mampa was arrested on the N4 Toll Road near Elandshoek for driving at 158 km/h on 80 km/h zone while Mr. Andrew Van Der Merwe exceeded with 143 km/h on the same spot. Both drivers were granted R1000 bail each and will appear again before the Ngodwana Magistrate Court on 16 February 2017.
Over and above, Mr. David Adrian was arrested for drunk driving on February 03, 2017 at about 18h00 on the R38 Road between Carolina and Badplass. He appeared before the Carolina Magistrate Court and was released on R500 bail.
Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane has commended the traffic officers for the arrests saying that such successes contribute to the efforts by government to reduce road crashes. MEC Ngomane says that such drivers should be prosecuted in order to save the lives of other road users. He says that in most incidences crashes are caused by speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous overtaking, and reckless driving amongst others. He appeals for harsher sentences to be meted to the offenders so that it can serve as a deterrent to other road users.
Meanwhile, the MEC sends condolences to the families of three people who died in a crash yesterday [05 February 2017]. At about 04h40 between Badplaas and Lochiel on the R541 Road, a sedan lost control and overturned. Three passengers died while the driver and another passenger survived with serious injuries and were rushed to Embhuleni Hospital. The MEC has also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Ends.
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza Contacts: Tel: 013 756 6371/ Cell: 082 678 1450
Email: emabuza@mpg.gov.za