I am pleased to note lower road-related fatalities this week when compared to the figures of the previous week.

While traffic management, which consists of Road Safety Management, Traffic Training and Development and Traffic Law Enforcement, plays a key role in making roads safer, each road user has an obligation to use our roads responsibly.

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services implemented a total of 52 integrated roadblocks, vehicle check point and speed control operations across the province in the week of 27 December 2021 to 02 January 2022, and 38 049 vehicles were stopped and checked.

When looking at the number of vehicles on our roads, it is clear that the vast majority of road users are responsible and law-abiding, but unfortunately there are those who gamble with their own and other road users’ lives.  These are the ones who have to understand that the public road network is not a place in which to act irresponsibly and endanger the lives of fellow users.

A total of 428 speeding offences were recorded and 9 505 fines were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver to vehicle fitness in the total amount of R8 525 750. Thirty-three vehicles were impounded and 83 were discontinued for unroadworthiness.

I want to thank all road users who keep their vehicles in a roadworthy condition. The number of vehicles discontinued or impounded, again shows that the majority of our road users support us in our goal to keep roads safe.

Speeding, however, remains a concern, with the highest speeds recorded being:

• 161 km/h in a 120 km/h zone
• 145 km/h in a 100 km/h zone
• 119 km/h in a 80 km/h zone
• 89 km/h in a 60 km/h zone

Among the on-going successes of the Department of Transport and Public Works’ Traffic Law Enforcement team, are 55 arrests under the National Road Traffic Act, Criminal Procedure Act, and Disaster Management Act regulations of which 31 were for driving under the influence of alcohol. Although this figure reflects a high success rate the incidence of drink driving remains really concerning to me and our teams are working around the clock to keep these drunk drivers off our roads.

I call on other roleplayers in this fight  - including the prosecuting authorities - to get these cases finalised in a speedy manner so the message to those who are continuing to drive drunk is clear.

Other arrests included:

• 3 x speeding
• 3 x reckless and negligent driving
• 10 x possession of fraudulent documentation
• 1 x disobeyed a lawful instruction
• 1 x bribery
• 2 x defeating the ends of justice
• 1 x possession of illegal substance
• 2 x fail to stop at the direction of a traffic officer
• 1 x Inducing any authorized officer or peace officer to act in conflict with his/her duty.

 While considerably lower than the figures for last week, the number of road fatalities this week remains concerning to me.  However, traffic volumes were higher as people returned home after the New Year’s Long Weekend and fatalities were lower. I thank every road user who continues to drive, cycle and walk responsibly.

A total of 22 crashes occurred in the reporting period, and 32 fatalities were recorded:

• 1 x cyclist
• 3 x drivers
• 1 x motorcyclist
• 16 x passengers
• 11 x pedestrians.

As the Province prepares for motorists to return to their respective destinations for the 2022 academic and working year and industries reopen, we appeal to all motorists and road users to practise patience, avoid reckless and negligent driving, rest sufficiently after every two hours of their journey and to be considerate to all road users and vehicle types while travelling on our roads.

Make the correct choices by checking your vehicle, not exceeding the speed limit, overtake only where it is lawful and absolutely safe to do so and never drink and drive.   

#BoozeFreeRoads

Media Queries:   

Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka

Spokesperson for Minister Daylin Mitchell

Cell: 082 953 0026

Email: Ntomboxolo.Makoba-Somdaka@westerncape.gov.za