Road safety with Vhuthu Hawe

Video

GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Various police units, provincial and municipal traffic in George have been deployed since yesterday, Thursday 24 June, as part of the Vhutu Hawe road safety operations being conducted in and around George.

Residents would have noticed official vehicles conducting inspections and road blocks throughout town over the past 24 hours.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies said the initiative has yielded positive results so far, with 146 vehicles stopped and searched; 42 fines to the value of R73 500 issued for traffic offences and 13 vehicles impounded.

Provincial Deputy Commissioner of Visible Policing, Major-General Mpumelelo Manci, visited the operations and thanked the members that had been deployed for their commitment. Spies said this road safety operation forms part of various operations that are being conducted in and around George.

Provincial Deputy Commissioner of Visible Policing, Major-General Mpumelelo Manci, visited the operations and thanked the members that had been deployed for their commitment.

Watch a video below:

Out in full force
Provincial spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW), Jandré Bakker, said their Traffic Law Enforcement Directorate (TLE) is out in full force in the Southern Cape. "Together with other law enforcement agencies, we are running a joint transport enforcement operation. These operations take place throughout the province. Such joint initiatives happen throughout the year and are part of our strategic and tactical plans. Joint operations, which are done in collaboration with the South African Police Service and local law enforcement authorities, are all part of our strategy to make our roads safer for all road users."

Bakker said the operations cover a wide scope of enforcement activities and cover all modes of transport, from private motor vehicles and heavy motor vehicles transporting goods, to public transport. "The current operation, which started earlier this week, is spread over the entire Southern Cape region and follows on a similar joint operation in the Witzenberg area last week. With joint operations like these, DTPW TLE not only uses its locally based units but may also bring in additional resources like our ghost squad, which is currently deployed in the Southern Cape. The figure of deployed staff and vehicles also fluctuate during such operations as, based on how the operation unfolds and what is found, resources may be deployed or released."

Bakker said while a date has been set for the operation to move to the next focus area, it may be extended based on how the operation unfolds. "Law-abiding road users have no reason to fear these operations," he said.

Provincial and municipal traffic officers, as well as police, on parade yesterday morning, Thursday 24 June, as Eden Cluster Commander Major-General Oswald Reddy addresses them. Photo: Lizette da Silva