As the festive season is fast approaching, we are gearing up to launch our traffic safety campaign. The province is expecting a significant influx of vehicular traffic as many people are expected to visit the Western Cape.

While this is good news for the tourism economy of the Western Cape, it will require us to take extra measures to keep our roads safe and to contain Covid-19. I will announce a detailed Festive Season Safety Plan next month.

In the week of 8 to 14 November 2021, Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services implemented a total of 150 integrated roadblocks, vehicle check point and speed control operations across the province, and 27 125 vehicles were stopped and checked.

A total of 184 speeding offences were recorded and 5 736 fines were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver to vehicle fitness in the total amount of R4 963 900. Fourteen vehicles were impounded and 45 were discontinued for unroadworthiness. The highest speeds recorded in the week under review was 160 km/h in a 120 km/h zone.

Three charges were laid under the Disaster Management Act and fines in the total amount of R8 000 were issued. A total of 29 people were arrested for various offences under the National Road Traffic Act, Criminal Procedure Act, and Disaster Management Act regulations. These include, amongst others, 18  people for driving under the influence of alcohol and seven arrests for possession of fraudulent documentation.

A total of 18 crashes occurred in the reporting period, and 22 fatalities were recorded. These include 10 pedestrians, 6 passengers, 5 drivers and one motorcyclist.

I advise members of the public who applied to attend the 12-month traffic officer training course to be held at Gene Louw Traffic College to respond only to official communication from the College and from an official Western Cape Government email address that ends: westerncape.gov.za. The College has become aware of fraudsters sending out misleading communication and asking applicants for money. Kindly note no money is payable for an application. Only shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview. No shortlisted candidate invited for an interview will ever be asked to pay for the interview.

I will join provincial traffic officers during road safety operations to ensure all our road users comply with lockdown regulations and follow the Covid-19 golden rules of hygiene to keep us all safe during this busy period.

Media Queries:   

Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka

Spokesperson for Minister Daylin Mitchell

Cell: 082 953 0026

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