City motorists should brace themselves for more intense traffic enforcement operations as the uMhlathuze traffic team will increase visibility on all roads leading up to the busy Easter weekend.
The uMhlathuze Traffic Department will activate random road blocks across the city in conjunction with the police, provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and others.
Mayor Mdu Mhlongo has vowed to work hard to reduce lawlessness on the city’s roads.
‘We are slowly drilling into the minds of drivers that our city is not a playground for drunk drivers and speedsters, especially during long weekends and other holiday periods.
‘Fatal road accidents leave families destitute with no one to care for them.
‘We constantly engage with the public transport sector on road safety and we can safely say that we are on right track, except for some individual drivers that we need to deal with through all possible legal means once we catch them.
‘During this Easter period, we will unleash all our resources to fight this scourge and save innocent lives,’ Mhlongo said.
While improvements and upgrades on road infrastructure in the city have been ongoing, Mhlongi said it was not a licence to speed.
The budget tabled for the next financial year reflects more investment on road infrastructure.
An amount of R19.6-million will be invested in Phase 3 to upgrade Mzingazi roads, R24.5-million to maintain urban roads and R30-million is to be set aside for the design and construction of a central industrial area link road.
‘Some roads, such as the expansion of the R66 next to the Richards Bay cemetery are now complete, providing a breather to the traffic bottlenecks experienced during peak hours.
‘The revamping of road markings has been completed in the Emangeni CBD and other phases will include townships and suburb roads.
‘More work still needs to be done to repair potholes in all our roads,’ said Mhlongo.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Department, including Disaster Management will also be on standby for any eventuality on our roads and drivers are urged to exercise extra caution and obey all traffic rules at all times.
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