29 October 2007.
North West Transport, Roads and Community Safety MEC Phenye Vilakazi has
vowed to continue to inconvenience drivers with warrants of arrest by arresting
them until they pay their fines. Vilakazi was speaking after more than R170 000
in outstanding fines was collected around Rustenburg in a campaign which ended
over the weekend.
Most of the money was collected after the offenders were arrested and
released after paying. About 78 minibus taxis with outstanding fines were
impounded and only released after their owners paid the fines.
The campaign is part of "Operation Jaws of Life", which is aimed at
recovering millions of rands in outstanding fines owed by motorists in the
North West and improving traffic police visibility on the province's roads.
Vilakazi has warned drivers with outstanding traffic fines to be prepared to
be inconvenienced "anywhere and any time of the day".
"If they inconvenience government and the people we serve by not paying
their fines, they must expect no mercy from us because we do not want to
encourage lawlessness," said Vilakazi.
He has not ruled out the possibility of offenders being arrested at their
work places.
"The message is clear pay up or face arrest," concluded Vilakazi.
More than 28 traffic officers and 18 newly acquired German sedan patrol
vehicles were involved in the campaign.
Enquiries:
Mandla Mathebula
Tel: 018 387 4810
Cell: 083 282 6133
E-mail: mmathebula@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Community Safety, North West
Provincial Government
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)
29 October 2007
