Mpumalanga Department of Public Works impounds 623 public transport vehicles during Easter
The MEC reminded motorists to follow the laws of the road at all times.
As everyone bade farewell to the Easter Weekend, the MEC for public works, roads and transport, Mandla Ndlovu, led a joint law enforcement operation on the R23 to Standerton on Monday April 10.
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On this day, holidaymakers travelled back home from various places. According to the department, the R23 is one of Mpumalanga’s most critical routes as it connects various provinces, including Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
“Since the beginning of the Easter Weekend, the department has impounded 623 public transport vehicles for various offences, ranging from unroadworthy vehicles to operating without a permit.”
Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane officially launched the Easter Road Safety Campaign in Mbombela last Wednesday. Various law enforcement agencies, including the department’s transport inspectorate, were deployed across the province to ensure safety on the road.
Traffic was expected to increase as most people were returning home, while others were heading to various places of work. This necessitated extra vigilance on the road as high traffic volumes often give rise to accidents as well as opportunistic criminal elements.
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“The main focus of the department is the overall safety of public transport and compliance with the National Land Transport Act no, 5 of 2009. According to the Act, public transport operators should be in possession of valid operating permits. Furthermore, the driver must be properly licensed and the vehicle must be roadworthy and adhere to all the general rules of the road. Drivers were encouraged to rest every two hours or 200km of their trip to combat fatigue.”
Ndlovu reiterated the road safety message during his interaction with drivers and commuters. “Here in Mpumalanga, we will not allow recklessness on our roads. Those who dare to test our strength will find themselves behind bars. Our primary interest is the safety of all road users,” he said.
