MEDIA STATEMENT

KWAZULU-NATAL ROAD AND TRAFFIC UPDATE

The Pre-Easter road and traffic clean-up in KwaZulu-Natal commenced on 26 March 2004. Strategic law enforcement plans already carried out have proven successful. Our specialised Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU) established to specifically target public transport vehicles such as buses, taxis, bakkies and other passenger-carrying vehicles, is providing increased general visibility and law enforcement in support of our road side courts. We have also created structures of co-ordination with the SAPS, SANDF, Emergency Medical Rescue Services and local authority traffic agencies. We have increased overall visibility and "Zero Tolerance" for all traffic offences will prevail.

The magistrates and their prosecution teams at the road side courts at Cato Ridge, Umdloti and Park Rynie have been busy presiding over cases relating to motorists who contravened road traffic laws. The busiest of the three road side courts so far has been Cato Ridge and some of the results have been as follows:

• 27/03/04 – Mr Paul Miguel Da Cunla, a sales representative from Pinetown was fined R10 000 of which R5 000 was suspended for five years and his driving licence was endorsed for travelling at 180 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone in a Subaru 4x4.

• 30/03/04 – Mr Sheldon Williams (26 years) of Gilbert Street, Bisley, Pietermaritzburg was fined R11 000 when he drove his VW Polo at 160 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone and also failed to stop upon instruction of a traffic officer.

• 31/03/04 – Mr Shivaan Chutergon, of 21 Oldfield Road, Malvern, Durban was fined R13 000 plus his licence suspended for three years when he was caught travelling at 177 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone in his VW car. Other charges included drinking and driving and failing to stop upon instructions of a traffic officer.

• 01/04/04 – Mr Douglas Mthandeni Xulu of Highton Farm ,Old Wartburg Road was fined R8 000 for drinking and driving after being involved in a motor vehicle collision with his Colt bakkie.

• 02/04/04 - Mr Vincent Edmund Tones, of 5 West Walk Arcade, Durban, a herbalist was fined R12 000 of which R4 000 was suspended for five years, after he was caught travelling at 176 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone in his VW car.

• 04/04/04 – Mr Koovshan Soobramoney of 85 Koorvoon Road, Pretoria was fined R12 000 for speeding at 160 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone. He was driving a Honda Civic at the time of the offence. Mr Soobramoney also failed to stop upon instructions of a traffic officer.

Whether you as a driver has budgeted for your traffic fines, if you drive recklessly we have only two choices; to allow you to continue killing and maiming other people or suspending or cancelling your driving licence. We choose the latter. The choice therefore is in your hands. Zero Tolerance is not a hollow phrase. Let us all join in creating a safer driving culture in our country.

We cannot bring back the dead but we can drastically reduce the carnage.

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