Johannesburg - Tis the season for dying on the road. In an attempt to curb this scourge of festive season fatalities, the City of Joburg launched its public safety plan on Friday.
This year the JMPD has again warned there will be no mercy for drunk drivers – but there will also be special operations conducted at malls because criminals are expected to target jewellery and cellphone shops.
The safety plan is largely to encourage a culture of responsibility by educating Joburg citizens on the importance of maintaining a heightened sense of awareness on the roads, and to report illegal activity, said safety MMC Sello Lemao.
The campaign will identify ways to address the safety challenges that come with the increased number of people, leisure activities and events happening in the city during this season, said Lemao.
“For many years we have been working for the people, now we want to work with them,” Lemao said. “We are working with ward councillors who are in constant communication with Joburg residents. This will help us target hotspots.
“Joburg metro police and emergency services will be on high alert as the festive season begins.”
He explained that it is the department’s mandate to create the capacity needed to service the city and its residents for a safer Joburg. “A new fleet of emergency management vehicles has been acquired and a fleet of JMPD vehicles is under way.”
COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
JMPD spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said safety was a collective responsibility and residents should help law authorities for the campaign to be a success.
Metro Police plan to deploy more than 2300 officers for the festive season. Drunken drivers will be cornered because irresponsible use of alcohol is a contributing factor to serious crimes like rape, murder and assault, said Minnaar.
“There will be many road blocks, and we will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach towards law-breakers.
“This year we will have drug-testing kits in addition to breathalysers. We will search vehicles, look for stolen cars and property and get rid of unroadworthy vehicles,” Minnaar said at the launch.
The safety campaign launch was followed by a major roadblock on the M2 in Joburg yesterday where officers – in addition to enforcing the law – handed out pamphlets and water bottles to motorists as part of their public outreach to educate residents.
There were no arrests at the roadblock, which lasted two hours. But 123 traffic fines were issued to motorists for defective lights, expired licence cards and discs.
About 23 drivers paid their outstanding traffic fines and one taxi was impounded for being unroadworthy, said Minnaar.
Saturday Star