Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng called on all law enforcement agencies in the province to stamp authority in the fight against any form of criminality on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC).
In his address to the hundreds of law enforcement officers prior to the four hour Trans Kalahari Corridor National Committee (TKCNC) domestic operation in Rustenburg, Morweng said the objectives of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC), are geared towards improving trade relations between the three member states and are also in line with the department’s mandate of providing protection to the communities.
During the operation, 11 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested. Amongst them, there was a woman who was arrested immediately on Morweng’s arrival at the operation prior to his address to law enforcement officers.
“Make sure that you deal with any kind of lawlessness that might emerge. It is in our quest to provide stable communities because it is incumbent upon us as government to make sure that there’s relative stability and that will be possible if you carry out your duties with diligence.
“Make sure that all those who are on the wrong side of the law are brought to book without thinking twice.
“We have also arrested ten foreign nationals during the vehicle stop and search exercise. A total number of 500 vehicles were searched,” he said.
Morweng further said the Home Affairs Immigration officers have initiated processes of identifying the nationalities of the said individuals and proper procedures will be undertaken. He added that as part of the operation, two stolen vehicles were recovered by the Gauteng NaTIS, 72 vehicles inspected and charged for various vehicle and driver defaults by both Provincial and Municipal Traffic officers.
“Thirty trucks were inspected and one issued with a fine by the Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) for failing to complete consignment note, while the Rustenburg Fire Department charged three trucks for transporting dangerous goods without adequate protocols.
“The Trans Kalahari Corridor National Committee Operation was held to promote compliance with law enforcement, promote safety and security and increase law enforcement visibility on the corridor and further to enforce laws and regulations intended to improve traffic safety and enforce related laws to transport, including weight limits and response rules to transportation of dangerous goods,’ said Morweng.
Meanwhile, the Trans Kalahari Corridor is a tripartite trans-boundary Corridor Management Institution that was established with a political and economic vision to pursue or contribute towards deeper regional integration programs of The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD.)
The Guardian 