KwaDukuza mayor responds to blue light ban

Although KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu admits to occasionally previously using the blue light while travelling, he supports the regulation that politicians do not abuse their powers on the road.

Recently KwaDukuza officials received a warning notice, as part of the back to basics regulation on how councillors ought to conduct themselves, which noted that local councilors, including the mayor, are not allowed to have their vehicles fitted with the emergency signal or exceed the speed limit.

The document notes: “Only a vehicle operated by a traffic officer, police officer or a member of the defence force in the execution of his or her duties may be fitted with or have a blue light. They may exceed the speed limit.”

The traffic act also makes further exceptions for the premier, MECs, the speaker of the provincial legislature, VIP protection services (the transportation of the king) and the president to have blue lights fitted to their vehicles.

Also read: KwaDukuza officials banned from blue light brigades

Responding to claims from locals who said they had spotting Mthembu’s vehicle making use of the blue light and speeding on multiple occasions, the mayor said he generally used the emergency signal during political rallies and denied speeding accusations.

“In truth, I am not a blue light person and I respect that it should be used for authorities to attend emergencies. “If people are saying that I am abusing the lights then they are welcome to take it up with me because it is not true.”

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