North West Premier, Thandi Modise has called on law enforcement agencies not to show offenders mercy but to intensify crime prevention operations for safer communities during the festive season.
Speaking at the launch of the Provincial Arrive Alive Road Safety and Operation When Duty Calls Campaigns on Friday at Mmabatho Stadium, Premier Modise said traffic officers and the police should be vigilant for any wrong doings both on the road and in communities.
Premier Modise expressed appreciation for the successes that traffic law enforcement operations had scored during October Transport Month and thanked officers for their hard work and dedication. The Premier highlighted that 90 245 vehicles were stopped as part of the National Rolling Enforcement Plan and 99 297 notices were issued.
Nine hundred and twenty-four motorists were arrested for unpaid traffic fines, 147 un-roadworthy vehicles were discontinued and 79 drivers arrested for drunken. Two illegal foreign nationals were among those arrested during the operations
The Premier decried that driving under the influence of alcohol was a contributory factor that caused most crashes over the past five years.
“People who drive under the influence of alcohol drive dangerously, recklessly, and inconsiderately. It is not only the offender who puts himself at risk of an accident, in most instances they continue to overtake on barrier lines, push off other drivers out of the road and became the causes of other accidents,” she said.
Premier Modise also raised a concern that there are high rate of pedestrians killed on the roads which also forms second contributory factor to fatalities.
She mentioned a total disregard of road safety education and awareness campaign as the main cause of pedestrian killed on the roads.
“Most of the pedestrian who are killed on the roads are either walking along the roads, crossing on unsafe areas or without looking at both directions of the roads and the kids while playing on the roads.
We appeal to pedestrians to take precautionary measures while walking or crossing the roads, please walk far from the road and try at all times to wear cloths which will make you visible to the drivers especially at night,” Premier Modise said.
Also sharing the same sentiments with the Premier, MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi emphasised that his department is ready to fight lawlessness on public roads and in the communities.
"Through the Arrive Alive campaign and Operation When Duty Calls we are seeking to fight any unnecessary loss of human life.
All our systems are in place, we are ready to take action against any individual who will be on the wrong side of the law," he said.
The MEC used the occasion to hand over eight new vehicles to traffic officers that will enable them to do their job effectively.
He said his department will continue to increase the fleet for Jaws of Life Special Operations and on an incremental basis add vehicles fitted with licence recognition technology in order to fight and reduce crime.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
