The Free State MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, Honourable Butana Komphela, had a plan for the Decade of Action: Easter 2013 and it was meticulously executed. Preliminary figures indicate that only 15 people lost their lives over the Easter weekend.
The most gruesome crash that claimed the lives of eight people was a head-on-collision on Thursday, 28 March 2013 involving two minibuses approximately 12km from Senekal on the road to Arlington.
Although the number of the fatalities decreased in comparison to other years, the Honourable Butana Komphela expressed grave concern that dangerous overtaking still claims lives of many people.
The Easter Plan was underpinned by high visibility of Law Enforcement Agencies which included roadblocks, random stop and screening of both driver and vehicle, highway patrols, monitoring of moving violations, etc.
In a period of 14 hours between Thursday and Friday, 2 304 vehicles were stopped and screened on the N8 and N6. In total 556 notices to the value of R193 525 were issued for various infringements.
On Easter Monday into the early hours of Tuesday, Honourable Butana Komphela mounted major operations on all the main corridors and border posts with the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. The main roadblock was at Maseru Border Gate. A total of 1 202 Vehicles were stopped and screened and 6 728 passengers were searched. Notices issued amounted to R55 950 and 45 vehicles were impounded and 30 people were arrested for not having passports.
Elsewhere 56 vehicles were impounded on the N6 and N19 at Ficksburg. Four speedsters were arrested over the weekend including motorcyclist who was nabbed speeding at 189km/h near Winburg. Three persons were arrested for drunken driving. Allegedly one is a well-known journalist who was so drunk that he urinated on the N3 at Harrismith as he was being arrested.
In a moving tribute to the sacrifices by the Law Enforcement Agencies, the MEC had this to say: “Many lives have been saved just because you sacrificed your time, your families and even going to church because you understand your high calling. The drivers that you arrested and the vehicles that you removed from the road were just a few moments from causing disaster.”
The Honourable MEC also thanked the Media for keeping the Decade of Action Campaign in the hearts and minds of all road users.
Enquiries:
Zolile Walaza
Cell: 082 410 6516
Saki Mohono
Cell: 082 385 5600
