Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has commended Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) officers for their visibility and dedication to promoting road safety in the province.
This follows the inspectorate’s removal of more 150 unsafe vehicles from public roads from April 6-12, during a week of high-impact stop-and-search #TacklingG13 operations, in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and the Sedibeng District Municipality.
According to the department, the operations – conducted in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) – were targeted at strengthening compliance with road traffic legislation, improving visibility and curbing lawlessness, particularly within the public transport sector.
A total of 13 vehicles were impounded, while156 minibus taxis were discontinued due to failure to meet minimum road safety standards. This followed the identification of critical defects, including faulty brakes, worn tyres, broken headlights, defective brake lights or indicators, and cracked windscreens. In addition, a further 212 vehicles were issued with discontinuation notices.
Officers also issued infringement notices to non-compliant public transport operators, including more than 700 manual infringement notices as well as 796 electronic infringement notices, which were processed using the inspectorate’s e-Force devices.
The department raised concern that 193 minibus taxi drivers were found to be operating without valid driving licences, and 85 minibus taxis were operating without valid licence discs.
GTI officers also arrested five motorists for offences including driving under the influence, interference with law enforcement operations and contravention of the Immigration Act.
Diale-Tlabela said the removal of more than 150 unsafe vehicles from the roads in just one week sent “a clear and uncompromising message that there is no room for non-compliance when it comes to the safety of our people”.
“The defects identified, ranging from faulty brakes to worn tyres, are not minor oversights, but are life-threatening,” she said.
“Through #TacklingG13, we are intensifying our efforts to ensure that every vehicle on our roads meets the required minimum safety standards and that operators who disregard the law are held to account,” Diale-Tlabela said.
Stop-and-search operations form part of the Department’s ongoing road safety campaign aimed at improving compliance, reducing road crashes and fatalities as well as promoting responsible behaviour among all road users.
MEC Diale-Tlabela has repeated her call to all road users – motorists, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians – to always exercise caution, prioritise safety, take responsibility, and comply with all laws.
