PIET RETIEF – The war on road deaths and injuries resulting from accidents can only be won with the help of communities as government alone will not make it.
This is according to Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Mr Vusi Shongwe.
Shongwe was speaking on Sunday when he was addressing law enforcement agencies as part of the roll-out of the Department’s Transport Month activities near Kemp Side on N2 Road between Piet Retief and Ermelo.
Shongwe added that regardless of programmes that government may come up with to curb road accidents, they would not be effective if communities are not supporting them. He said communities could support by obeying traffic rules, not drinking and driving, report those who drive in a reckless and negligent manner among others.
He added that road accidents continue to claim many lives, hence he is calling on traffic law enforcers not to tolerate any person who breaks the law on the road. Shongwe explained that some people have repeatedly called him to intervene when traffic officers stop them, especially when they were on the wrong side of the law.
He insisted that anybody who breaks the law, whether they claim to be his friends or related to him, must be prepared to face the consequences of their actions and that traffic officers or the police must deal with them accordingly.
“Nobody is above the law, whether they are my friends or family and therefore traffic officers must not be afraid to deal with them,” Shongwe emphasized.
Speaking at the same function, Gert Sibande District Municipality Speaker, Cllr Snana Dlamini, called on municipalities in her district to also prioritise road safety by ensuring that access roads in their areas are well maintained as failure to do so may impact on government’s overall road safety initiatives.
She further pledged her municipalities’ full support to the department’s road safety initiatives saying that accidents also affect their municipalities negatively and there is a need to reduce those accidents.
Sunday’s operation was part of the ongoing Transport Month activities in the province.
The operation was among others supported by SAPS, Road Accident Fund, Gert Sibande District Municipality and Mkhondo Local Municipality.
Transport Month was first launched in October 2005 and usually during this month an emphasis is placed on safe transportation of people hence road safety is also highlighted.
The department will conduct various programmes that would include roadblocks, road safety awareness programmes, rest stops and other general law enforcement operations.
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