Festive season safety plan rolled out

IF you break the law this festive season, you will be spending some time in jail.

This is the promise of MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mxolisi Kaunda who was speaking at a launch event for his department’s Festive Season Safety Plan in Durban on Monday.

‘The launch of this plan kicks off many activations that will see us as government working in unity with all sectors of society to ensure there is safety on the road and in our communities,’ Kaunda said.

‘We are saying road safety is our collective responsibility, but we are also reminding everyone that we can only defeat crime when we work together,’ he said.

He said the plan would see existing campaigns to eliminate road traffic accident deaths and crimes, intensified.

KwaZulu-Natal is the second most populous province, after Gauteng – with 10.9 million citizens who make 19.9% of the country’s total population. It also attracts the second highest number of visitors, especially during the Festive Season.

‘Therefore, a decline in road fatalities and crime incidents in this province will have a huge impact on the overall national statistics,’ he explained.

The safety plan encompasses inputs from all institutions charged with law enforcement, emergency medical services and all those charged with tourism related matters.

Zero tolerance
Government has allocated huge resources both human and financial for the successful implementation of the plan.

This Provincial Operational Plan, which has already swung into action, will be in place up to 31 January 2017.

‘We also wish to caution all criminals, who are attacking the police that their actions may be a shortcut to the grave.

‘With this plan, we hope to reduce road crashes and fatalities and ensure that there is peace and stability in the province,’ Kaunda continued.

‘We are going to be especially focusing on township roads and residential areas.

‘As a province, we are reinvigorating our zero-tolerance approach to lawlessness and we are warning all those who intend to dare break the law: you will spend time in jail,’ he said.

The plan will see more than 24 000 men and women in the protective services such as SAPS and RTI officers deployed across the province to enforce laws.

‘Let us all remember that Safety – both on our roads and in our communities – is our collective responsibility. Let us work for a safe and peaceful festive season,’ Kaunda concluded.

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