MBOMBELA – A roadblock launching the provincial Easter road safety campaign led to the discovery of heroin worth about R2 million.
The roadblock was held on the N4 near Mataffin on Tuesday. According to a statement by the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), the heroin was found stashed in a black bag and was discovered along the road by one of the officials on duty during the operation.
During the roadblock eight motorists were also brought to book for unauthorised LED lights on their vehicles and two notices to cease and desist driving vehicles with defects were issued.
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In another statement, the department said the province had recorded 44 fatalities over the Easter period last year, as a result of 209 accidents. MEC Pat Ngomane said in a statement that death and injury could continue to be reduced if all stakeholders worked together and road users behaved.
He said that the government will ensure increased law enforcement visibility, roadblocks and road safety initiatives on all major roads. The department will further implement alcohol operations.
“The operations will focus on identified priority roads which are the routes that have contributed to most crashes and fatalities experienced during the previous holiday periods,”
he said.
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Stakeholders like the police, RTMC, road traffic officials and emergency services joined the department during the roadblock. Ngomane and SAPS provincial commissioner Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, will also visit various operations across the province including ports of entry over the weekend.
