The Easter Road Safety Campaign, Kemolao, will be launched by Executive Mayor, Parks Tau on 31 March at Marlboro Licence Testing Center from 8.30am. The launch will move to Alexandra between 9am and 10am where soccer players will gather at Pan Africa Mall to interact with community members.
Metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar warned that traffic officials will have a zero tolerance approach to lawlessness and to those who drive under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Minnaar said, “There will be roving roadblocks where officers will stop and check vehicles for roadworthy, driving licenses and professional driving permit for public vehicles including buses and taxis.” He also stated that buses and taxis which are not roadworthy will be taken to the testing stations for full roadworthy test.
Minnaar, said there will be over 22 point road blocks on all exit routes from the city on N1 and M2. “Besides the road blocks, we will also have officers patrolling all the major highways. We are expecting the largest number of vehicles that will be leaving between Thursday and Friday this week.” Minnaar also said there would be a highly visible presence of traffic officers on the roads, which would not only prevent motorists from speeding, but would also assist with traffic control. “We are urging all road users including passengers and pedestrians to take personal care of themselves on the roads and obey the rules of the road as the law dictates.”
Meanwhile City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety Councillor Sello Lemao said the public needed to remain conscious of the fact that safety is a collect responsibility. “Working together we can reduce the number of fatalities on our roads”, Lemao said. The campaign will also focus on searching vehicles of drugs, illegal firearms, overloaded especially the vehicles leaving Johannesburg to other provinces and also ensuring that drivers are fit to drive.