MEDIA STATEMENT

MINISTER CALLS FOR CALM ON ELECTION DAY

MEC for Transport S’bu Ndebele today called for calm on the roads as holiday makers prepared their return trips home and voters came out in their thousands to vote in the third democratic elections in the country.

Traffic volumes on KwaZulu-Natal roads today was moderate to low with no major incidents reported. However, traffic heading out of the province was measured at about 1 000 vehicles per hour and is expected to increase later today.

"This is a momentous day in our lives. I am confident that motorists, passengers and pedestrians will be cautious. I am particularly concerned with pedestrians today who have come out in their thousands to go to the polls. I caution motorists to be alert and conscious of people walking on the roads.

"My only hope is that this day is event free. It’s utopian to believe that there can be no crashes. But I am confident that this people’s countrymen and women will follow zealously the rules of the road.

"Ten years in the new democracy you have been set free. Now I ask of you to allow the right to life, to be cautious and show restraint on the roads," Minister Ndebele said.

Meanwhile, traffic officers in KZN are out in full force today to ensure safety on our roads, peaceful elections and "zero tolerance" to all traffic offences. Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) officers, including our Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU) will be providing a support service to the SAPS, SANDF and local authority traffic agencies, especially in outlying areas.

Yesterday alone seven people were convicted of speeding offences at the Cato Ridge Roadside Court alone with the highest speedster being Sanjeev Raichand (34 years), a Business Analyst from Pietermaritzburg, who was caught travelling at 172 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone and was released on R1 500 bail. Further, Mr Evan Channing (20 years), a student from Howick in the KZN Midlands, who was caught whilst driving a Porsche and travelling at 157 kilometres per hour and failing to stop upon instruction of a traffic officer, was fined R6 500. Also, Themba Elijah (26 years) driving a truck belonging to Amalgamated Bulk from Gauteng, was arrested for travelling at 119 kilometres per hour instead of the prescribed 80 kilometres per hour on the N3 near Estcourt yesterday. He was granted no bail and is currently detained at Estcourt SAPS. So far nearly 300 cases have been heard at our roadside courts at Cato Ridge, Park Rynie, Bergville and Umdhloti.

An area of concern is the number of speedsters who are travelling at maniacal speeds and who when caught are failing to stop upon instruction of a traffic officer. This illegal and dangerous behaviour not only puts the lives of our traffic officers and the offending motorist at risk, but also the lives of other road users. These motorists are warned that no mercy will be shown towards them and RTI will pursue those who fail to stop.

Yesterday, KZN’s highest speedster for this holiday period, Mr. Kaizer Victor Moticoe from Durban driving a red Audi A4 registration number CYB 159 MP, who was arrested on Monday whilst travelling at 197 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone near Estcourt, failed to appear in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court. Moticoe was released on R1000 bail and was due to appear in court yesterday. He failed to do so and a warrant for his arrest has been issued.

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