However, organized business has demanded that the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) remove all speeding cameras from Emfuleni roads and instead focus on an integrated behavioral road safety strategy.
This follows Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) President Klippies Kritzinger exposing the illegal deployment of a number of traffic cameras in Vanderbijlpark.
Kritzinger, citing a legal opinion gained by the GTCoC, says the camera placements he exposed were both immoral and illegal.
He claims it immoral for ELM to focus on revenue-hunting by issuing fines instead of focusing on an integrated strategy to reduce road accidents, injuries and fatalities in Emfuleni.
And this whilst potholes are multiplying all over and road safety is also seriously undermined by lack of services such as grass cutting. Kritzinger said such cameras needed to be bolted down onto a cement slab.
Also, ELM must ensure all its official vehicles – especially traffic vehicles – and those of senior administrative and political office-bearers were properly licensed and roadworthy before victimizing the motoring public.
Like Kritzinger, many residents are waiting to see what the new ELM Administration is going to do to put the Traffic and Community Safety house in order – and how this department is going to be gainfully employed in terms of a professional plan to reduce accidents and demonstrably change both pedestrian and motor vehicle user behavior in Emfuleni. – Craig Kotze (Guest Writer).
