Chairperson of the forum, Jean Berdou said the forum had been working with Metro police, Gauteng traffic police and police to improve visibility and policing in order to address incidents of lawless driving in the Fourways area.
Berdou said the forum had received reports of at least two pedestrian deaths, primarily as a result of taxis not obeying the rules of the road.
He said, “Notwithstanding the forum’s interventions with the traffic lawlessness issues, it cannot be said that the [response by] Metro police has been anywhere near satisfactory.”
He explained that in terms of the forum’s new constitution which was implemented in December last year, Metro police also fell under the Community Policing Forum, and as such, the forum was mindful of the large number of serious complaints, mainly of taxi drivers who were disregarding the rules of the road. Berdou said numerous reports of driving on verges and islands, dangerous overtaking, cutting-off other road users, driving on the wrong side of the road and running through traffic lights were just some of the atrocities that road users in the Fourways area were subjected to on a daily basis.
He said the forum had taken steps to summon senior Metro police officers to the area to witness peak-hour traffic behaviour.
Berdou said the forum was also disappointed in the taxi associations’ attitude, as it seemed that they were more interested in protecting the interests of their members than disciplining members to follow the rules of the road.
The forum has informed Metro police that either the appropriate law enforcement action is taken or the forum would consider launching an urgent high court application, compelling Metro police to do their job.
The forum appealed to all motorists in the Fourways area to remain calm and patient, even when faced with provocative illegal action by non-compliant drivers.
Berdou pointed out that confrontation with people who break the rules of the road is both dangerous and unlawful.
He suggested that community members take photographs and report such incidents to the police.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for Metro police said there were already many senior Metro police officials doing daily operations in the Fourways area, and on 26 February a number of taxi drivers were given fines of up to R1 000 for unlawful behaviour.
Minnaar added that even more operations would be conducted in the Fourways area.
With regards to the high court application, Minnaar said he could not comment.
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