Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has re-iterated that bribery and corruption will not be tolerated.
This follows the arrests of two motorists over the week-end who offered traffic officers a R40 and R20 bribe.
Yesterday (Saturday, 29 October), a driver who offered members of the National Traffic Police (NTP) a R40 bribe for overloading in Johannesburg, was arrested and detained at the Alexandra police cells and is expected to appear in court tomorrow (Monday, 31 October).
On Friday (28 October), members of the NTP arrested a Mozambican national on the Golden Highway in Johannesburg who offered them a R20 bribe for not being in possession of a valid driving licence. He is detained at the Eldorado Park police cells, and is also due to appear in court tomorrow (Monday, 31 October).
"We will not tolerate any form of bribery and corruption. This month (October) alone, various officials and members of the public have been arrested for fraud, bribery and corruption related to the transport sector. We want to re-iterate our warning, to any person who involves themselves in such activities, that we will leave no stone unturned in such matters. Those who accept a bribe, as well as those who offer the bribe, will face the full might of the law. We are also calling upon the public to report such criminal activities to the National Traffic Call Centre on 0861 400 800," said Minister Ndebele.
Meanwhile, the Minister has welcomed the bail conditions imposed in the trial of the driver accused of killing five joggers while allegedly driving drunk on 23 October in Midrand, Gauteng.
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Sibusiso Langa (43) appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday (28 October), and was granted R80,000 bail. One of the conditions of Langa's bail set by Magistrate Maryke de la Rey was that he was not allowed to drive while out on bail. He faces five charges of murder, one of attempted murder and one of drunken driving.
"We welcome the bail conditions imposed in the trial of the driver accused of killing five joggers while allegedly drunk, particularly that he is not allowed to drive while out on bail. Each and every one of us has a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on the road. During this Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 to 2020, let us all work together to make sure our roads are safe," Minister Ndebele said.
More than 2,400 public transport drivers have been arrested across South Africa over the past two months, as part of pre-December holiday traffic law enforcement operations and following Minister Ndebele's instruction that every bus and taxi must be stopped and checked.
From 31 August to 23 October 2011, 522,837 public transport vehicles were stopped and checked; 1,928 mini-buses, 840 buses and 1,133 trucks discontinued from use for being in an un-roadworthy condition; 81,503 fines issued for various public transport offences; more than 2,418 public transport drivers arrested including 344 for drunk driving, 1,806 for overloading, 88 for excessive speed, 26 for reckless and/or negligent driving and 154 in connection with public transport permits.
In a special operation on Thursday (27 October), as part of October Transport Month, more than 80 buses were discontinued by the RTMC's National Traffic Police (NTP) in Polokwane, Limpopo for defects including oil leaks, seats not securely fastened, loose electrical wiring and cracked windscreens. On Monday (24 October), 20 buses were suspended in Witbank.
As part of the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) announced by Minister Ndebele on 10 September 2010, from October 2010 to September 2011, 14,017,190 vehicles and drivers were checked, 5,978,981 fines issued for various traffic offences, 19,780 drunk drivers arrested and 53,341 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are buses and taxis) discontinued from use.
Report bad driving to 0861 400 800.
Enquiries:
Ashref Ismail
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)
Cell: 071 680 3448
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
Minister Ndebele - Fraud and corruption will not be tolerated
