Ghost Squad
a nightmare for traffic offenders
Provincial traffic’s operation Thatha Zonke kicked off in George earlier this week during which traffic officers, backed by the police, set up numerous roadblocks to check for unroadworthy and unlicensed vehicles, taxi transgressions, drunk drivers and other traffic related offences. It is understood that on Monday and Tuesday, the first two days of the operation, 22 vehicles were impounded. The traffic authority also had the help of their provincial Ghost Squad who demonstrated their swiftness and stealth in their high-powered, unmarked cars to help bring unruly traffic offenders to book.
Provincial traffic's operation Thatha Zonke gave true meaning to the word 'take it all' when they held roadblocks in and around George this week.
The provincial traffic authority, together with members of their provincial Ghost Squad and the assistance of the police, is currently conducting roadblocks across the Southern Cape. Operation Thatha Zonke kicked off on Monday 21 May at 05:00 in Nelson Mandela Boulevard, Parkdene. Various vehicles were stopped, checked and some impounded. Fines were also issued for various traffic related offences. According to information the George Herald received the operations are aimed at restoring law and order on the roads by checking for unroadworthy vehicles, taxi transgressions, unlicensed vehicles, drunk drivers and other traffic related offences. It is understood that on Monday more than 12 vehicles were impounded and on Tuesday another 10.
Provincial Ghost Squad here
The provincial Ghost Squad in their high-powered, unmarked cars are, it seems, succeeding in their core objective: To be almost omnipresent. Residents have been wondering about the unmarked vehicles with the blue lights that were seen chasing down York Street in early morning peak traffic on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In addition to the team focusing on all moving traffic violations, they have also assisted traffic officers that were prevented from executing their duty.
Since late last year there have been several incidents where the help of the police had to be called in to assist traffic officers where taxi drivers and motorists resisted law enforcement. Incidents of motorists allegedly hitting officers with their vehicles and uttering threats have been reported.
Ghost Squad vehicles chased down the old airport road yesterday morning (Wednesday 23 May) to assist with an incident near the George
Airport where taxi drivers, who did not have the necessary documentation, were pulled over. When stopped, the taxi drivers allegedly drove off in the direction of Geelhoutboom where the drivers ran into the veld with the officers hot on their heels. "At one stage the officers genuinely feared for their lives and the Ghost Squad was notified," a source told the George Herald. Arrests were made but it is unclear as to how many people were arrested.
In another incident a few weeks back, provincial traffic officers from Mossel Bay were stopped by unknown men along the road near the airport while escorting a taxi to the pound in York Street, George. These men allegedly forced the officer driving the taxi out of the vehicle, freed the arrested driver and drove off with the other traffic officer's car key. This incident is still under investigation. The George Herald requested more information about the success of the operation, but at the time of going to print no one from provincial traffic had responded.
At one stage the officers genuinely feared for their lives and the Ghost Squad was notified.