The Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety & Liaison has begun with intensified road traffic operations as traffic volumes are expected to increase with the Easter Weekend soon approaching.

Transport, Safety & Liaison MEC, Martha Bartlett, has called upon all road users to take personal responsibility on the roads. 

“I call upon all of you road users – private motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport operators (short and long distance) – to take personal responsibility for your safety on our roads during the Easter and School holidays,” said MEC Bartlett.

She highlighted that “Easter reminds us of God’s never ending love… Let us strive during this period to increase respect for human life and treat road carnage with the seriousness it deserves:  to obey the traffic rules on the roads.”

MEC Bartlett made a clarion call that amongst observing road safety on the roads, all road users should refrain from using alcohol on the roads and cautioned for people not to drink and drive,  and Arrive Alive.

The Head of Department, Mr Steven Jonkers, said the Road Traffic Fraternity will be out in full force leading to the Easter Weekend, with intensified support from the National Traffic Police joining forces with the Province. 

“We will maintain our zero-tolerance to lawlessness on our roads and caution all road users to abide by the rules of the road,” said Jonkers.

He said it was important for people to follow the Do’s and Don’ts of the road to ensure their safety. 

“We caution our road users to buckle up, not to drink and drive, to drive within the speed limits and avoid dangerous overtaking – this we do because it will help save their lives and ensure they arrive safely at their different destination,” added Jonkers. 

He added that all road users must exercise caution and patience on the roads.

“Our cyclists and pedestrians are also important road users, and we appeal to them to remain visible on the roads and for motorists to be considerate of them on the roads,” said Jonkers adding that road safety was everyone’s responsibility.

-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

A 30 year-old woman from Lesotho was arrested on Wednesday at a road block on N8 during Operation Paseka.

The suspect was a commuting in a taxi from Free State to Kimberley, the taxi in which she was travelling in was stopped at road block and searched during the search the suspect’s luggage was searched and three plastic bags containing compressed dagga weighing 8.5 Kg worth street value R20 000 was found in her possession.

“The suspect has been charged with possession of dagga and she will appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court soon” Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said.

Meanwhile in another road block on N12 the police also confiscated two trailers which were suspected to have been stolen.

“We shall continue with Operation Paseka to ensure that criminals are brought to book” Tawana said.

-TDN

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Rustenburg- The young Kaboentle Mabe of Geelhout Park in Rustenburg received his 6-months birthday present when the Bokone Bophirima Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Gaoage Molapisi handed him a car seat during the official launch of the recent Easter Arrive Alive Campaign held in Rustenburg.

Kaboentle was identified while travelling with his parents during the Road Safety Campaign roadblock that was conducted on the Dr James Moroka road.

Handing over the car seat to the young Kaboentle, MEC Molapisi appealed to his parents to ensure that the child enjoys the seat comfort while travelling with him. He said the seat will ease the parents as it will reduce the risks and safe the child’s life if anything happens.

About three car seats which were donated by the Road Accident Fund (RAF), were handed over to children traveling with their parents.

In his address to hundreds of people at the Rustenburg taxi and bus rank MEC Molapisi said one death on the roads of the province is too many. Our people are perishing, parents are losing their children, women become widows, men become widowers, children become orphans and the country is left poorer.  Our roads are painted with blood of our beloved ones because of stubbornness, selfishness, impatient and bad attitude.  This has to come to an end and it  must end today.

Those who will be found on the wrong side of the law they would be dealt with harshly and locked behind the bars,” warned Molapisi.

He said traffic law enforcement officers would no longer hide behind trees and trap motorists but they will always be visible on the roads.

The departmental MEC signed the pledge with transport stakeholders which included the taxi associations, buses and business structures in the province. He said the stakeholder participation in support of road safety will play a critical role in saving the lives of the people on the roads and that will reduce the number of accident and incidents.

“The signing of this pledge means that you must make sure that your drivers are mentally fit and sound, your buses, taxis and trucks are roadworthy, they have breaks, tyres and lights, he urged.

The Transnet Freight Rail pledged to increase its rail way safety campaigns in an endeavour to curb the high rate of accidents at railway level crossings.

“Transnet Freight Rail has a national campaign which will be running during this Easter period, we would like to appeal to the community in eradicating these tragic and unnecessary incidents by obeying traffic laws governing rail level crossing laws at all the time,” said Transnet Executive Manager Johan Bouwer.

SANTACO provincial chairperson Mr Thomas Matsomela said the association continues to encourage its members to service their taxis, not to drive at night and treat commuters with respect.

This year’s Easter Arrive Alive was launched under the theme; “heightening of the 365 Road Safety programme”.

-TDN

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BY OBAKENG MAJE

TAUNG CPF and other stakeholders such as Department of Social Development, National Prosecuting Authority, Greater Taung Municipality, Department of Safety and Transport Management, Taung Business Holdings as well as Taung Youth Battalion, embarked on awareness campaign.

The campaign started with a motorcade from Taung SAPS through Taung CBD, a loudhailer was used to address the community on the need to be vigilant at all times, to reject and report stolen goods and to correctly mark their properties for identification purposes after they have been stolen.

“The campaign specifically targeted theft out of motor vehicle crime which has been on the rise within Taung CBD, businesses around the area closed their businesses for one hour to support the campaign, and business owners joined the motorcade, as a result the motorcade captured the attention of a substantial number of customers” Pudimoe Police Station spokesperson, sergeant Tebogo Thebe.

Captain Jebetle, speaking on behalf of the Cluster Command encouraged the community at large to play an active role in crime prevention particularly the Youth through the recently introduced initiatives of Youth Crime desks at police Stations around the country.

A small formal event took place in front of Shoprite and the event became a success.

-TDN

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ER24 welcomes the new regulation to the National Road Traffic Act that aims to protect children by use of a child car seat.

The use of a child car seat for all children under the age of three will be compulsory from May 1, 2015. Motorists that have children under the age of three unrestrained in a vehicle will be issued a fine.

Several motorists still refuse to take seriously the constant warnings and calls by emergency services and authorities to have children properly restrained in vehicles.

On a daily basis while on the road you will find young children jumping on back seats, hanging out of windows and sitting on passenger’s laps. Upon speaking to parents some will tell you that they never grew up with child car seats and they survived. Parents may also tell you that their children do not like being restrained and cry constantly. Some parents insist you not tell them what to do with their children. Times have changed.

The number of vehicles on the road today has increased drastically. With the number of cars, buses, bikes and other modes of transport we are surrounded by everyday and the number of distractions on the road, there is no better and safer option but to have your child restrained. If your child does not like being restrained take responsibility and make them understand that it is not up for discussion.

The sad truth is ER24 and other emergency services attend to horrific collisions involving children on a weekly basis. Majority of unrestrained children are flung out of vehicles and either sustain critical injuries or die in collisions. For those parents who cannot afford new car seats, remember that there are organisations that sell second hand car seats or hand them out for an affordable donation.

While the law forces parents to use child car seats for children under the age of three, this does not mean that adults should ignore the need to restrain older children. Make sure they are restrained appropriately.

Remember you cannot undo death. The choice you make could be the difference between life and death. Make sure your child is appropriately restrained.

What is the appropriate restraint for your child?

ER24 offers the following advice:

• Infants should ride rear-facing at least until they are a year old. Once they exceed the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer of the infant safety seat, they should continue to ride rear-facing in a convertible safety seat. It is best to keep toddlers rear-facing as long as possible.
• When they have outgrown this seat, they should use a forward-facing safety seat with a full harness. This should be used until they exceed the weight and/or height limit set by the manufacturer of the seat.
• Children who have outgrown a convertible safety seat should use a booster seat until they are at least four feet.
• Children who are tall enough to wear an adult seat belt should still ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old. Adjust the seat belt so the lap belt crosses the child’s upper thighs and the diagonal belt crosses the upper chest at a point between the neck and shoulder.

ER24’s Emergency Contact Centre can be reached 24 hours a day on 084 124.

-TDN

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By Kedibone Molaetsi

Kimberley police arrested a 40 year-old man from Lesotho and charged him with possession of drugs, Northern Cape police said on Thursday.

Kimberley police crime prevention team observed a suspicious looking vehicle on Barkly Road in Galeshewe, while on duty and mottled at the driver to pull-off the road.

However police said instead of the driver to stop, he sped-off and high speed chase ensued between him and the police. He was shortly pinned down on Mooketsi Street, near Galesheswe.

“Upon search and investigation, a black bag containing 0.15 kg of dagga and mandrax tablets were found inside the vehicle.  The street value of the dagga and mandrax found is estimated to R4 440” lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said.

The vehicle was also confiscated and suspect will appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on count of possession of drugs and dagga, on Tuesday.

-TDN

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Krugersdorp- A motorcyclist was injured following an accident on the N14 north bound near Krugersdorp this afternoon.

Exact detail surrounding the cause of the accident and preceding events are still unknown and will remain the subject of an investigation.

“Netcare 911 paramedics and other services arrived at the scene and found the motorcyclist lying on the centre median of the roadway. Upon assessment, paramedics found the motorcyclist had sustained critical injuries during the accident” Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann.

The critically injured man was treated at the scene and transported to hospital for the urgent medical care that he requires, under the care of an advance life support paramedic.

Traffic was affected as one of the lanes were closed down to traffic. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

-TDN

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Kimberley- Two people were injured after a vehicle collided into a ditch along Transvaal road Kimberley this afternoon. Exact detail to the cause of the accident is still speculative and will remain a subject for police investigation.

Netcare 911 paramedics and the provincial services arrived at the scene and found the two occupants to have sustained serious injuries. After treating them on scene medics transported the injured to a local hospital for the care that they required.

-TDN

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