MEC joins road safety campaign drive
The MEC for the department of transport Weziwe Tikana led a highpowered team of law enforcement officers at a roadblock on the N6 in Komani on Sunday.
The operation, which was cordinated in collaboration with the police, the community police forum (CPF) and the traffic officers, was the final road safety campaign in the province to conclude the festive season and ensure everyone arrived safely at their destinations.
The department’s spokesman Unathi Binqose said Komani was one of the country’s busiest towns which linked travellers from towns across the province on their journeys to the bigger cities.
“The N6 route to Johannesburg and in East London’s direction become very busy during the festive season as people return home and others are going on vacation. It was important for the department to ensure all road-users complied with the law and had all the necessary documents needed when driving.
“Most importantly, we wanted to check whether drivers were sober and that vehicles were roadworthy.”
Binqose said most vehicles which were stopped for checks did not make it past Komani as drivers either did not have licenses, were driving without necessary permits or were driving unroadworthy vehicles.
Binqose said they expected roads to be busy this week when most businesses reopened and pupils returned to school after the holiday.
“The MEC has put out a stern warning to all road users to be vigilant on the roads and that anyone found to be breaking the law, risking other people’s lives would be dealt with accordingly. There will be no lenience to people who do not adhere to the road regulations.”
Binqose said that the department believed the initiative to prosecute trangressors had possibly saved many people’s lives over the festive season into the new year.