 
MEDIA STATEMENT
KZN'S TOP THREE SPEED MANIACSKZN's three highest speedsters since the start of the festive season received their prizes today. Avalon Edward Van der Heever (40) from Gauteng was fined R15 000 in the Escourt Magistrates Court for travelling at 208 kilometres per hour in a 120 kilometre per hour zone on the N3 near Escourt on 05/12/2003 at 20H30. At the time he was driving a BMW 540i and was granted bail of R1 000. His reason for speeding was that he was late for a meeting. Beatrix Van Schalkwyk (28), a medical assistant from Pretoria was fined R16 000 today in the Scottburgh Magistrates Court. She was caught speeding at 202 kilometres per hour in a 120 kilometre per hour zone along the N2 near Sezela yesterday afternoon. She was driving a VW Polo Classic. Her reason for speeding was that her passenger broke his tooth. Mr Thabo Mabunda (29), a building contractor from Naturena, Johannesburg was find R5 500 (R4 000 for speed and R1 500 for failing to stop) at the Mooi River Magistrates Court today. He was caught speeding at 174 kilometres per hour in a 120 kilometre per hour zone on the N3 at Mooi River yesterday. He was driving a Audi Quattro 2,7 turbo. His reason for speeding was that his female passenger was ill. Mabunda failed to stop and was apprehended fifty kilometres later at Pietermaritzburg. Meanwhile, 70 drunk drivers were arrested over the last three days by officers from the KZN RTI Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU). Since 25 November 2003, a total of 289 people have been arrested by RTI Officers for offences ranging from drunk driving to reckless and negligent driving, speeding and other offences. In addition to this, traffic officers charged motorists for nearly 20 000 various other traffic offences. 438 vehicles were removed from the roads for being un-roadworthy. RTI Officers patrolled 238 790 kilometres and worked a total of 34 383, 5 hours of which 13 379, 5 hours were worked as overtime. (It must be borne in mind that the above figures exclude enforcement carried out by other traffic agencies such as Durban Metro Police and the local authority traffic departments). Also, from 9 November to 14 December 2003 as part of Operation Juggernaut, 627 drivers have been arrested for drunk driving and 950 vehicles were suspended for being un-roadworthy. Since 1 December 58 people (11 drivers, 13 passengers and 34 pedestrians) have been killed on the province's roads with 14 killed on national roads, 6 on provincial roads, 3 on district roads and 35 on municipal streets. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S'bu Ndebele has warned motorists that those who think that they will get away with blatant disregard for road rules should think again. "KZN is a Zero Tolerance zone and you will get caught and face the full might of the law. We are hopeful that fair punishment will be meted out and maximum sentences, including the endorsement of driving licences will be imposed," Ndebele said.
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