The new National Rolling Traffic Law Enforcement Plan (NREP), launched by Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele effective 1 October 2010 has already registered significant successes.
In just two weeks from 1 to 14 October 2010, more than half a million vehicles and drivers have been stopped and checked across the country, as part of South Africa’s “Make Roads Safe” campaign and the NREP.
The NREP, launched by Minister Ndebele on 10 September 2010, will see law enforcement officers across stop and check no less than 1 million vehicles and drivers across South Africa every month.
In less than three hours (07h30 to 10h00) yesterday (Thursday, 14 October 2010), 783 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked in East London in the Eastern Cape.
Drivers were fined for 438 various traffic offences, 32 vehicles were discontinued from use, 33 warrants of arrest were executed, 17 public transport vehicles were impounded due to no transport permits and one stolen motor vehicle was recovered. Minister Ndebele accompanied by amongst others, Eastern Cape Transport MEC Ms Ghishma Barry visited the road block.
Minister Ndebele said: “We are intensifying our efforts towards safer roads in South Africa. It is the road user who breaks the law who needs to worry. Road users who must worry are those who want to cause death and never-ending pain. The driver who needs to worry about enforcement is the driver who wants to injure and maim others. It is these road users that our programmes are targeting.
“A country that has safer roads is a country that has safer provinces, safer districts and safer local municipalities. A country's roads are safe when every citizen is safe on our roads: road safety in every village, road safety in every township, road safety in every suburb, road safety in every school and at work; road safety everywhere!
“Let us turn islands of compliance and excellence into a sea of change, a new culture, a new wave of good behaviour and commitment to safer roads in our country. Let this wave for road safety become a river throughout our country and be embraced by all. Together, we can make road crashes history. Working together, we can stop the carnage,” said Minister Ndebele.
Tonight (Friday, 15 October 2010), the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in partnership with Gauteng Traffic Police and Gauteng Metro Police department will hold a roadblock in Pretoria focusing on drinking and driving. Due to the sensitive nature of this operation, further details of the road block cannot be disclosed at this stage. Media are invited to attend and further details on the road block may be obtained from Mr Ashref Ismail from the RTMC on 071 680 3448.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
More than half a million vehicles checked since 1 October
