Metro promises action against bribes
“Be aware that there will be certain action taken against anybody who is found guilty of it."
Tshwane metro has promised to take action against those who offered, solicited and accepted bribes at the metro police’s festive season road operations launch last week.
“Be aware that there will be certain action taken against anybody who is found guilty of it,” newly appointed community safety MMC Grandi Theunissen said.
The safer season operations were launched near the Carousel toll-plaza, north of Pretoria.
Theunissen was talking to members of the media when he spoke on the topic of bribes.
“Just as much as there is zero tolerance towards offenders of drinking and driving, there is a zero, zero tolerance on bribes on both sides,” he said.
“There’s two sides to a bribe – the person accepting and/or extorting the bribe and the person that is actually paying the bribe.
“So, this is an appeal to the public not to offer anything or tempt the officers, but it also expected that our officers do not even consider asking for a bribe,” Theunissen said.
During the launch, he explained that the operations served to not only create awareness and promote safer road use during the festive season, but to also ensure smooth flow of traffic, prevent reckless and negligent driving which could result in road crashes, injuries and fatalities.
“We know that the festive season comes with many year-end celebrations, increased road usage and heavy flows of traffic as many travel to visit their families, loved ones and also to various holiday destinations,” Theunissen said.
“Unfortunately, this is also a period where we witness many fatal crashes and a general decline in obedience to traffic rules.”
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He said this was evidenced in the national transport department’s statistics.
“A total of 1 448 people died on South African roads in 1 210 fatal crashes over the 2020/21 festive season. Our province, Gauteng, accounted for 231 of these fatalities,” Theunissen said.
These accidents were said to have occurred between December 1 and January 11.
He added that part of their campaign would include TMPD officers being on the roads to ensure law and order in and around the Tshwane metro by enforcing traffic rules and municipal by-laws.
“It is critical that our officers maintain high visibility on popular routes within Tshwane, the team will also conduct general crime prevention ensuring that residents feel safe during this period,” he said.
However, Theunissen noted that achieving good results also relied on road users to be responsible and accountable.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
He also took the opportunity to remind motorists to take responsibility by adhering to speed limits, resting when they were tired, wearing their seatbelts and not drinking and driving.
“This will not be tolerated by our officials. The city has a zero tolerance approach to drinking and driving so motorists are warned – you will be arrested,” Theunissen said.
Pedestrians were also advised to avoid crossing freeways and to always be visible when they were walking, particularly at night as statistics reportedly showed that a large number of road fatalities included them.
“Our goal is to ensure that residents travel and return from their various destinations safely. We trust that both road users and pedestrians will heed the call to be responsible.
“Rest assured, our TMPD team will not tolerate any lawlessness and offenders will be arrested,” he said.
Theunissen extended gratitude to the TMPD officers who would be on duty during the festive season, adding that their dedication was commendable.
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