The Executive Council (EXCO) of the Limpopo provincial government held its monthly meeting yesterday on 20 April 2011. The meeting welcomed strides that have been made by government in implementing the Operation Paseka Plan.
The implementation of the Operation Paseka Plan commenced with effect from 1 April 2011 and it will be rolled-out until the end of May 2011. The plan is geared towards ensuring that government has a coordinated approach in addressing, among others, road safety, provision of emergency medical services, disaster management services, crime prevention and access control at the ports of entry such as Beit Bridge and Grobler’s border post.
Some of the achievements that have been registered in the implementation of the Operation Paseka Plan include, among others, the launch of the alcohol evidence centre in Polokwane which is designed to enhance conviction of those who drink and drive. Since the launch of the Alcohol Evidence Centre on 12 April 2011, about 33 people were successfully convicted for drunken driving.
Ground and air operations that government is implementing in all the districts of the province during the Operation Paseka include, among others, the following:
- 74 Roadside promotions to encourage road users to observe the rules of the road
- 312 major roadblocks
- 2 958 roadside check points
- 408 speed measuring points
- 850 automated number plate recognition operations
- 460 roadworthiness check points
- Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC) helicopter is deployed to monitor the traffic flow on the N1 and R71 road that leads to Zion Christian Church from the City of Polokwane.
EXCO appreciated that Operation Paseka has contributed towards scaling down the number of fatalities on the road in province. Last year, there were 43 fatalities which were experienced in the province between 1 and 20 April 2010 as a consequence of road accidents. However, this year, statistics show that the province has registered 26 fatalities during the period under review. This shows a reduction of 17 cases of fatalities from the ones experienced in the previous year.
EXCO expressed displeasure on the proliferation of advertisements that are put on, among others, lampposts and parameter walls to promote illegal abortion and adult shops paraphernalia. Government will embark upon operations that will see the provincial government working together with municipalities to ensure that those who derive financial gain from these advertisements endure the full wrath of the law.
EXCO noted the Project Implementation Plan for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the declared disasters that occurred in Limpopo between December 2010 and February 2011 by the department of Local Government and Housing. The report shows that in January this year, Vhembe, Sekhukhune and Waterberg District Municipality were declared a state of National Disaster in terms of section 27 of the Disaster Management Act.
As a consequence of the said disaster, Limpopo was allocated almost one hundred and eighty two million in order to commence with that reconstruction of affected infrastructure that include, schools, roads, bridges and houses.
EXCO received a detailed plan on the provincial Freedom Day Celebration to be hosted at Giyani Stadium – Greater Giyani Municipality – Mopani District on the 27 April 2011.The event is going to be held under the theme: “Working together to unite the Nation, promote democracy and protect freedom”.
The meeting appreciated the preparations made for the EXCO Public Participation Programme which is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 30 April 2011 at the Madombidzha village at Makhodo municipality in Vhembe district.
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