Motorists in the Eastern Cape and nationally beware… traffic police will be out in full force and will show no mercy to those who break traffic rules. Transgressors face spending two nights in a cell.
The biggest offenders are drunken drivers; those driving under the influence of narcotics; speedsters; and reckless or dangerous and negligent drivers. But, holding a cell phone in the hand while driving is considered to be as bad as drunken driving, as it is one of the contributing factors to fatal accidents. “We will be very harsh on this transgression because it is causing accidents on our roads.
“We are taking out all those posing danger not only to themselves, but to the innocent road users … we open a docket and we arrest them and detain them!” This is the stern warning from Chief/Station Commander, Provincial Inspector and Deputy Director, Lunga Xasholo, during an exclusive interview with St Francis Chronicle and Kouga Chronicle
“We are ready! We have deployed officers to cover all our main roads to ensure roads are safe, that there’s a free flow in terms of our roads,” Chief Lunga says.
The EC law enforcement officers in the Sarah Baartman District, under which Kouga falls, will like others nationally, take strong action against those who break the laws of driving on roads.
“We have zero tolerance for driving while under influence of liquor or narcotic drugs, as this may lead to loss of life or severe injuries.
“We will strive to ensure no motorist will put his or her life and innocent road users lives in danger by driving while under influence of liquor or drugs. This includes reckless or negligent driving. Plus the holding a cell phone in hand while driving, puts drivers’ lives and innocent road users’ lives in danger… We will not tolerate this on our roads!” Chief Lunga said.
Once a motorist is arrested for driving under influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotics, the docket is registered and the suspect will be detained in a cop station.
A suspect will appear before the relevant court within 48 hours and the magistrate will decide further.
The fine for contravening regulation 308A of National Road Traffic Act 93/1996, which is using cell phone in a hand while driving (instead of a hands-free set on dashboard), is R1500. “We appeal to all road users not to hold a cell in their hand while driving.”
The Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM), under which Kouga falls, Lunga says, has announced its state of readiness for the end of the 2025 year festive season. “We’ve deployed officers to be visible. SBDM law enforcement is working with all law enforcement agencies in the EC District including the SAPS, Metros in Nelson Mandela Bay and Kariega, and with all municipal areas in SBDM, including immigration and relevant stakeholders.
“We have a multi-disciplinary operations scheduled to cover the entire festive period and have deployed officers to do law enforcement in terms of speed measuring. These officers are being stationed all over our critical routes to ensure road users are complying with speed limits to avoid accidents.”
Lunga says motorists are warned not to use cell phones while driving because they are contributing to accidents -”32 because road users cannot concentrate on the road alone while they are busy on their cell phones.
“We have increased ‘E-Visibility ‘to prevent accidents happening, or those about to contravene rules and road traffic signs, Lunga said. He added that in in terms of the national theme: ‘This year it starts with you, or it starts with me,’ all road users are urged to be safe road users when driving a vehicle.
“Drivers must consider other road users as well to ensure we are all, safe on our roads. “We have a series of operations planned throughout the festive season, Lunga added .
In related news: Provincial and Traffic Departments will be out in full force this December and January. “Think twice before having that ‘one last drink’ before driving!” law enforcement offcers warn motorists every season, as they vigorously pursue their our mandate of ‘upholding law and order’.
There will be stop and search roadblocks held randomly. Police will continuously work with traffic authorities to clamp down on drunken driving and reckless drivers.
Joint road blocks will also be held with the South African Police service to look out for non roadworthy vehicles and drivers for whom warrants have been issued for previous offenses or unpaid fines. Some of the plans are likely to include increased police visibility in the form of foot patrols in shopping malls and in the beachfronts.
Motorists nationally have been urged to to reduce crashes this season and law enforcement have stressed no one is above the law and that strict action will be taken against offenders. Co-ordinated pre-festive season clean-up operations were held with 109 motorists arrested for drunk driving in the Eastern Cape on one weekend last month.
Motorists can expect heightened police visibility and frequent roadblocks on major routes and identified hot spots, including the N2, N9, N10, and R72. Authorities urge all road users to be responsible on the roads this festive season. The Minister of Transport , Barbara Creecy, this December said pedestrians account for more than half of all those who are killed on the roads. She urged motorists to prioritise vehicle checks, rest breaks, valid licences, seatbelts and sober driving.
Provincial and Traffic Departments will be out in full force this December and January. “Think twice before having that ‘one last drink’ before driving!” law enforcement officers warn.
Joint road blocks will also be held with the SAPS for non-roadworthy vehicles and drivers for whom warrants have been issued for previous offences or forunpaid fines.
AARTO fines announced this month stand at: Drunken driving – in Court (up to R120,000+); reckless driving – in Court (up to R10,000+); driving without a seatbelt R1000; exceeding speed limit ranges from R250 – R3200.
Gauteng Traffic…
In addition, The Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has warned motorists that there will be zero tolerance for unroadworthy vehicles, reckless behaviour, or criminality on Gauteng’s roads.
“Our enforcement teams are acting decisively to protect commuters and ensure full compliance by public transport operators. Road safety is not negotiable, and those who undermine it will be dealt with without exception,” Diale-Tlabela said on 17 December.
With a dedicated team of 96 officers, the MEC said the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) remains committed to enhancing road safety, clamping down on illegal operations, and upholding the rule of law across the province.
The Gauteng Provincial Government continues to intensify road safety enforcement through high-impact stop-and-search operations led by the GTI, in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
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