KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu, has rejected as opportunistic claims that blue light vehicles are a major cause of road accidents and road related deaths.
Mchunu described as malicious and cheap politicking the statements by some opposition parties to blame blue lights as a cause of road carnage.
Mchunu was responding to the linking of the unfortunate accident involving His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini’s protection vehicle on the N2 Mtubatuba on Monday where two people were killed.
Mchunu has already initiated a process through the Cabinet to address the abuse of the blue light device and to look at mechanisms for public recourse where blue light vehicles might have violated rights of other road users.
This process informed a recent meeting Mchunu had with all members of the South African Police Service VIP protection units in the province to remind them of how they are expected to behave and of the legislations guiding their conduct.
The Nation Road Traffic Act (act 93 of 1996) is clear that only a member of the South African Police Service, a Traffic Officer and a member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the execution of duty can make use of a blue light device.
Mchunu said government had tasked a high level team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident on the N2, Mtubatuba.
“It is therefore pre-mature for anyone to suggest that blue lights were the cause of the accident. We are looking at this case with its merits and we are hoping that the team leading the investigation will soon give us a comprehensive report on its findings. We, therefore, view these allegations as a cheap political statement, particularly the suggestion that blue lights were a major cause of road accidents.
As government we have initiated the process to engage on how best we can eliminate the abuse of this device. We expect everyone to make a constructive contribution. The matter has been discussed at the Cabinet and we will be tabling it at the legislature for further debate. We re-affirm that nobody is above the law,” said Mchunu.
He also alluded to government’s commitment to hold whoever responsible for the abuse of blue lights accountable.
Contact:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462
Mchunu rejects claims citing blue lights as a major cause of road deaths
Province
