JMPD clamps down
FOURWAYS – JMPD has recently increased its visibility in the Fourways and surrounding areas much to the delight of many motorists.
between Lonehill Boulevard during peak hour traffic for violating the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, according to MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun.
Over the past few weeks, motorists may have noticed an increase in Joburg Metropolitan Police Department‘s (JMPD) visibility in and around the Fourways area.
Several instances were reported by the Fourways Review such as the impounding of 15 vehicles late last month. On 28 January, Metro police impounded eight unroadworthy and unlicensed minibus taxis in Kyalami at the R55 and Main Road intersection.
The following day, seven unroadworthy minibus taxis were also impounded during a public transport operation in the same area. Metro police chief, David Tembe, said the officers would continue to monitor the area.
MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun said, “The purpose of the JMPD increasing their deployment to various areas is that bad driver behaviour and the minibus taxi situation, especially around the Fourways area is becoming quite unmanageable. This is an ongoing operation so we will definitely have increased visibility, not only just to deal with offences and contraventions but also to ensure that we have a smooth flow of traffic leading all the way from Diepsloot to the N1 turnoffs.
“The one bottleneck we have picked up is the turnoff at Rivonia – there is a bit of a ‘spaghetti’ turn and that’s been causing a bit of congestion which results in traffic not moving quickly on the freeway, thus causing further congestion for the [motorists] wanting to get off William Nicol onto the N1 North.”
Sun added that Metro police were doing the necessary work to ease these congestions and Operation Buya Mthetho would continue. He said motorists should see more unroadworthy vehicles impounded during the operation.
Twitter users encouraged Metro police officers to continue removing these vehicles from the roads. One Twitter user went as far as to tweet a video of an unroadworthy Toyota Venture that is used to commute people around the Midrand area. The vehicle did not have operating brake lights, indicators and lights. This operation gained much traction on social media as pleas from the public poured in regarding particular problem intersections all around the city.
On 31 January, Metro police arrested a motorist in Lonehill on Main Road between Lonehill Boulevard and Witkoppen Road during peak hour traffic for violating the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, according to Sun.
“He was also charged for reckless and negligent driving, which is an arrestable offence,” Sun told the Fourways Review. “The driver has since been taken to the Douglasdale Police Station for further processing.”
According to eblockwatch founder, Andre Snyman who was present during the operation, the motorist is allegedly a repeat offender. He was pulled over at about 7am and arrested on the scene. The operation forms part of the smart technology that eblockwatch launched in November last year as a means to apprehend motorists who break the law on the roads.
The technology, dubbed ‘Snakes and Ladders’, is a ‘positive solution to a negative situation’, according to Snyman.
“This technology will help us to create heat maps for JMPD so that they know where the incidents are happening,” said Snyman.
At the time of this incident, Sun said, “I would like to give a shoutout to Andre Snyman of eblockwatch as it’s positive partnerships like this from our residents that really assist us to ensure road safety and ensure that our neighbourhoods are safer.
“We understand that there are a lot of issues and complaints. Unfortunately, with limited policing resources in terms of JMPD and SAPS, we are not able to cover every street corner, so whenever residents see issues like this, please bring it to our attention. We will certainly deal with it to the best of our abilities.”
This month, Metro police impounded a bakkie on 6 February for being overloaded at the intersection of William Nicol Drive and Leslie Avenue in Fourways. The bakkie was carrying 17 passengers, two in the front and 15 at the back. The driver was fined R1 700 for overloading and his vehicle was impounded.
“The bakkie has been impounded and he will have to pay R2 900 to get it [back]. For now, the vehicle is in the pound for verification,” said Metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar.
Sun concluded, “We do request that motorists in the Fourways area please be cautious and patient, as well as report any traffic incidents either to our JMPD call centre on 011 375 5911 or the traffic hotline on 080 872 3342.”
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