While the Police’s Festive Season operations have yielded much success since its launch in Seshego last month, the Department of Transport and Community Safety’s Law Enforcement Unit has also recently established Operation Ndadzi, meaning thunder, in an effort to keep motorists safe and to keep disobeying road users at bay during the holiday season.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe said since the launch several operations have been conducted across the province which yielded positive results. “We are already out in full force fighting crime by conducting daily operations. Members in blue will also be seen on the roads joining hands with various stakeholders conducting roadblocks to assist in the effort to keep road fatalities limited,” Ngoepe said.
In a press statement Transport MEC Makoma Makhurupetje was quoted saying that road fatalities and serious injuries represent a serious opportunity cost to the South African society. “People injured or killed on our roads are often breadwinners in their families and important contributors to the economy at large. Limpopo province fatal crashes have reached an alarming proportion compared to its performance during the previous years. It is clear from the inference made that unless innovative and robust road safety and traffic law enforcement plans are put in place as a matter of urgency, the situation might turn from bad to worse. We are going to hit and hit harder to rid the province of the scourge,” she said.
The objective of the operation is to reduce critical offence rates that lead to crashes by being strict and very harsh on those who are to be found driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, speeding and unroadworthy vehicles. Motorists who are breaking the rules of the road by overtaking on barrier lines, texting and driving and not stopping at stop signs will also be dealt with.
The department will inculcate safe road user behaviour and encourage voluntary compliance by educating the public about road safety and possible punishment.
Visible policing and operations will ensure that the public stays aware of law enforcement and to obey or suffer the consequence. Increased operations and roadblocks will conducted on all roads across Limpopo.
Story: RC Myburgh
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