Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has praised law enforcement officers for going all out over the past few days to ensure the safety of road users on South Africa’s roads this Easter.
Since last Thursday, 1 April, hundreds of motorists have been arrested and thousands fined for various traffic offences. More than a thousand (1000) un-roadworthy vehicles have been removed from the country’s roads since 1 March 2010.
“We want to praise all law enforcement officers who have gone all out, as part of the Department of Transport’s arrive alive Easter holiday road safety plan, to ensure the safety of road users. We expect traffic volumes to increase again tomorrow, Monday, 5 April and law enforcement agencies will continue to be out in full force. We want to repeat our calls to all South Africans to join us in this fight for safer roads by simply obeying all road rules, making the safety of other road users a priority and putting ubuntu into action on our roads. Responsible citizens do not need to be policed all the time,” said the Minister.
As part of the national rolling enforcement plan, in the Eastern Cape alone, from Thursday, 1 April to yesterday, 3 April, 214 drivers were arrested for drinking and driving and 29 drivers for other offences; 608 drivers fined for various traffic offences; 31 un-roadworthy vehicles discontinued from use; four warrants of arrest executed; five government vehicles confiscated for being operated without proper authorisation; six buses without permits impounded and one stolen vehicle recovered.
In KwaZulu-Natal, several motorists were arrested and detained for speeding. These include a mini-bus taxi driver arrested earlier today, Sunday, 4 April at Dundee for travelling at 155km/h and detained at South African Police Elangslagte; the driver of a Mercedes Benz also arrested today, 4 April for travelling at 177km/h on the N2 near Park Rynie and detained at Scottburgh South African Police; the driver of a mini-bus taxi arrested yesterday, 3 April on the N2 near Park Rynie for travelling at 161km/h and detained at Scottburgh South African Police; the driver of a Siat Cupra arrested yesterday (3 April) on the N2 near Park Rynie for travelling at 202km/h, drinking and driving and failing to stop and detained at the Scottburgh South African Police; the driver of a VW Polo arrested on 2 April on the N2 near Umkomaas for travelling at 177km/h and detained at South African Police, Umkomaas.
In Mpumalanga Province as well, more than four drivers were arrested and detained for speeds in excess of 180km/h.
In Gauteng, more than 30 commuter buses and 50 mini-bus taxis were found to be un-roadworthy and discontinued from operating.
Road crashes reported since 1 April include six people killed on the R63 between Pearston and Somerset East in the Eastern Cape on 1 April; five people killed between Warden and Roadside in the Free State on 1 April; seven people killed on Moloto Road in Pretoria in Gauteng on 1 April and four people killed on the N1 near Colesburg in the Northern Cape on 2
April.
“We want to convey our condolences to the families and relatives of all those killed in road crashes over the past few days. We wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Minister Ndebele said.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
Issued by: Department of Transport
4 April 2010
