A year ago, Kruger Lowveld Tourism (KLT) launched their roadside anti-corruption initiative to curb traffic official corruption and bribery. This involved informing international and local tourists that it’s illegal to pay cash to a traffic officer or any other official on the roadside by handing out business cards.
These cards contain KLT’s contact number, a 24-hour police telephone number, TRAC’s 24-hour helpdesk number for emergencies and assistance and space for each accommodation establishment to write their number for tourists who need assistance.
“Legitimate fines should be paid at a police station or magistrate’s court only, where a receipt must be issued. Road tolls, where applicable, must be paid at official toll plazas only,” says KLT’s Executive Director and Marketing Consultant Lisa Sheard.
Many tourists have been taken in by unscrupulous traffic officials and toll scam artists as they’re unfamiliar with South African law.
TRAC is now supporting to the initiative and will be printing and handing out the warning cards at the Middelburg and Machadodorp toll plazas. They will also be erecting boards in key hotspots to help create more awareness.
“KLT is excited about the pilot project that we will be running with TRAC until the end of the year. We need to reach as many tourists as possible to alert them to the dangers of being bribed and to keep them safe,” Sheard says.
“The number of tourists that TRAC will be able to reach in advance of their arrival in the region will give the campaign a significant boost, running into high season for international visitors and of course, especially over the festive season,” she adds.
TRAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Graham Esterhuysen, says tourism is one of the identified key areas leading to job creation in South Africa.
“The bad experiences of visitors who have encountered fraud, corruption and theft, reverberate overseas and undo all the good work done by our tourism ambassadors. In the event that this campaign helps to prevent such bad experiences, TRAC is fully supportive of the initiative,” he concluded.
Motorists are urged to write down the following numbers and keep it in their vehicles:
KLT: 013-755-1988 (office hours)
TRAC 24-hour helpdesk: 082-881-4444 or 080-087-2264
SAPS 24-hour line: 082-451-7044
