Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, has instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to speed up the establishment of the Traffic Law Enforcement Review Committee to create standards for the traffic law enforcement fraternity, as well as oversee the integration of all traffic law enforcers.
This follows Peters’ announcement yesterday (Tuesday) that a total of 237 people had died in 179 fatal collisions on South Africa’s roads from 29 April to 2 May.
She said invitations for nominations for the establishment of the Traffic Law Enforcement Review Committee would soon be widely publicised.
Peters also called for “intensified collaboration and engagement” between the Department of Public Service Administration, the RTMC, provincial governments and labour formations to pave the way for the introduction of a 24/7 work shift within the traffic law enforcement fraternity.
Over the holiday period, four major collisions claimed the lives of about 30 people throughout the country.
In Gauteng’s Randfontein, 15 people died when a truck collided with a minibus taxi. In the Western Cape, five people lost their lives when an SUV crashed into a sedan in George.
In Limpopo, nine people died when a minibus crashed into a trailer, near Nylplaza in Mokopane, and one person died in a multiple car collision involving four cars on the N2 between East London and Mooiplaas in the Eastern Cape.
“Most worrying are the causes of these major crashes which include drunk driving, overtaking when it is unsafe to do so, reckless and negligent driving as well as speeding,” Peters said.
