MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has applauded the work of the Gauteng Traffic Inspectorate (GTI) in its contribution to efforts to combat lawlessness, curb criminal activity, and improve compliance with road traffic legislation in the province.
GTI’s ongoing stop-and-search operations continued, in May, to record positive results along key transport corridors in the various cities throughout the province.
The high-impact stop-and-search operations, in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), constitute a vital component of the provincial government’s strategic framework to address lawlessness, curb criminal activity, and strengthen compliance with road traffic regulations.
During the month, operations were conducted mainly along key transport corridors in the cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, to enforce compliance and adherence to traffic and operational regulatory framework.
As a result, a total of hundred and forty-two (142) vehicles were impounded across the province, including thirty-five (35) in Tshwane, twenty-four (24) in Johannesburg and eighty- three (83) in Ekurhuleni. In addition, three-hundred and eleven (311) minibus taxis were discontinued after failing to meet critical roadworthiness standards.
Officers further issued infringement notices to non-compliant public transport operators with more than one-thousand-five hundred (1500) manual infringement notices issued. A further two-thousand-five hundred (2500) electronic notices were processed through the GTI’s advanced e-Force enforcement devices.
Furthermore, over two-hundred and fifty (250) minibus taxi operators were caught without valid driving licenses, while an additional one hundred (100) vehicles operated without valid license discs.
Beyond traffic-related offences, the operations also tackled broader criminal activities, which resulted in thirty (30) arrests. The arrests were linked to offences including fraud, bribery, interference with law enforcement duties, contraventions of the Immigration Act and driving under the influence (DUI).
Remarking on these results, MEC Diale-Tlabela indicated that impoundment of non-compliant vehicles is critical and is intended to “send a clear message that lawlessness and disregard for road traffic regulations will not be tolerated in Gauteng”.
"Our enforcement programme is primarily aimed at protecting lives, restoring order on public roads and ensuring that all public transport operators are compliant with relevant regulations. We will continue to strengthen these operations to create a safer and more reliable transport environment for all road users."
She added discontinuation of unroadworthy vehicles remains one of the interventions, as part of the #OperationRemoveSkorokoro initiative, in removing unroadworthy vehicles, reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities, particularly within the public and scholar transport sectors.
The Department will continue to work closely with all stakeholders including major minibus taxi federations to ensure compliance and adherence to all traffic laws to improve safety on public roads.
“We will continue to strengthen these operations to build a resilient public transport system as well as safer roads for all" said the MEC.
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Email: pressoffice.gpdrt@gauteng.gov.za
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