Operation ‘Thunder’ hits reckless drivers
Motorists who don’t obey the rules of the road or drive under the influence of alcohol should expect harsh consequences this Festive Season as the Department of Transport and Community Safety’s Operation Ndadzi will be in full swing throughout the holidays. Operation Ndadzi, meaning ‘thunder’ in Venda, has started across the province and MEC Makoma …
Motorists who don’t obey the rules of the road or drive under the influence of alcohol should expect harsh consequences this Festive Season as the Department of Transport and Community Safety’s Operation Ndadzi will be in full swing throughout the holidays.
Operation Ndadzi, meaning ‘thunder’ in Venda, has started across the province and MEC Makoma Makhurupetje reportedly said the thunderous attitude and spirit with which the province’s law enforcement team is advancing discipline, order and mobility on the roads is paying off. Some 3 011 vehicles were stopped from 10 to 12 November and the number increased to 6 567 on the weekend of 17 to 19 November, bringing the total of vehicles stopped over two weekends to 9 578.
Statistics from the Medical Research Council and South African Police Service for 2016/17 reveal a worrying picture with 58% of road deaths being alcohol related, stated Makhurupetje.
“It is against this background that our traffic officers will make it their business to arrest those who are found driving under the influence and we have arrested 11 of them with two speedsters and 25 others who already had outstanding warrants of arrests. Our pledge is to ensure safety on the road and we will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for violations.”
She saluted the provincial traffic officers who arrested two motorists who tried to bribe them and stated that good traffic officers respect the law and the badge. Makhurupetje called on motorists to make a plan to get home safe if they know that they consumed alcoholic beverages, but at the same time appealed to passengers to say no to being driven by a drunk driver.
The objective of the operation is to reduce critical offence rates that lead to crashes by being harsh on those who are to be found driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, speeding and un-roadworthy vehicles, she said and added that visible policing and operations would ensure that the public remains aware of law enforcement and the need to obey the rules of the road or else suffer the consequences.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
