Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula. Picture: Jacques Nelles
A total of 2,451 motorists were arrested for various road traffic offences, which include non-compliance with lockdown regulations.
The department said over the period 1 April to 25 April, law enforcement authorities conducted a daily average of 167 roadblocks, resulting in an average of 23 567 vehicles stopped and checked.
“Over the same period, a daily average of 168 vehicles were stopped from crossing provincial boundaries, with Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape being the most notorious offenders.”
Law enforcement and road traffic officials will keep an eye on the patterns of compliance by minibus taxis with regards to the limit on the number of passengers they can ferry, whether they operate beyond the regulated hours and compliance by e-hailing providers and the number of vehicles on the roads, parliamentarians heard.
“We must, therefore, commend the overwhelming majority of taxi operators and motorists who continue to abide by the rules and motorists who heed the call to stay at home.”
Parliamentarians were told that an analysis of the compliance trends to the lockdown regulations and directions demonstrates that there has been overwhelming compliance.
“While the number of vehicles on our roads had reduced dramatically, by between 70 and 75%, a notable spike in vehicle movement was noted around Easter.”
“The daily roadblocks go a long way in enforcing compliance, which is further reinforced by the continuous enforcement of the road traffic laws. As a consequence of this, no fewer than 800 vehicles were taken off the road due to unroadworthiness.”
(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)
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