MEDIA STATEMENT

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Bheki Cele has applauded the arrest of 36 people who were trading along N2 at Umvoti Toll Plaza in KwaDukuza.

The arrest comes after members of the department of transport’s Public Transport Enforcement Unit(PTEU) and Road Traffic Inspectorate(RTI) and South African Police Services(SAPS) raided the area this morning to arrest people who were trading on the freeway.

Of the 36 people, 32 were given a fine of R100 each and 4 were released as they were trading in a vending booth built by the South African National Roads Agency.

"These arrests send a strong message to members of the public that our road safety campaign does only target motorists but all road users including pedestrians. Our statistics show that a large number of people who die on roads, particularly in this province are pedestrians, said Cele."

At the same time, police are also interrogating these people regarding yesterday’s incident where two traffic officers were assaulted by a mob from the nearby informal settlement at Umvoti Plaza while they were removing people who were trading on the free way.

The arrests of the people who assaulted traffic officers yesterday are expected to be made soon.

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