26 arrested for traffic violations in Province

WITH 26 arrests in the Northern Cape already for speeding and drunk driving, the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison has warned holidaymakers travelling home after the festive season, that law enforcement on local roads will continue.

December has seen intensified efforts by law enforcement officials to improve public safety in the Province through combined operations.

According to spokesperson for the department, Keitumetse Moticoe, tens of thousands of cars have already been stopped and searched over the festive season, resulting in several arrests and hundreds of fines.

With joint efforts by the SAPS, local municipalities and traffic officials from the Northern Cape and North West still ongoing, Moticoe said that a zero tolerance policy for traffic violations remained in place.

“Operations will continue across the Province as we know that traffic volumes are still high with people travelling to and from various destinations,” she said yesterday.

“Since the start of our festive season road safety campaign on December 1, we have stopped and checked more than 30 000 vehicles, issuing more than 2 400 summonses for various offences such as driver and vehicle fitness. “Thirty vehicles were found to be unroadworthy and were removed from the road while more than 6 500 people have been tested for alcohol during various operations.

“Twelve motorists have been arrested for drunken driving and 14 for speeding.”

Moticoe said that she was not able to give the exact number of fatalities on the Northern Cape’s roads this festive season until the official statistics had been made public by Transport Minister, Joe Maswanganyi, in due course. - Murray Swart