Road Traffic Management Corporation vows crackdown on bribery as Easter traffic volumes surge
Traffic officers face dismissal if caught taking bribes as authorities prepare for busy Easter roads.
The CEO of Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Makhosini Msibi, has promised to fire officers found taking bribes during the upcoming Easter travel period.
Addressing the National Traffic Police in Tshwane on March 31 ahead of their deployment to the roads, Msibi called on the traffic officers to make a difference in the country by reducing the number of vehicle road fatalities.
He warned that stern action will be taken against those who are involved in bribery, corruption, misuse of firearms and coming to work under the influence of alcohol.
He promised support to those who do their work diligently, but “those who do wrong mabahambe (let them be fired)”.
“We cannot allow these people to be among us. You cannot be friends with criminals,” he emphasised.
Traffic is expected to increase on all major roads leaving major industrial hubs from Thursday.
Some of the roads that are expected to experience a surge in traffic volumes include, among others, the N1 from Gauteng to Polokwane, N3 from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, the N14 from Gauteng to Mpumalanga, the N2 from KwaZulu-Natal to Eastern Cape, N2 from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape, N6 from the Eastern Cape to Western Cape.
Other routes include the N1 from the Free State to the Western Cape, N12 from Gauteng to the North West and N8 from Bloemfontein to Lesotho.
RTMC shared that highly visible law enforcement will be deployed on all routes, including alternative arterials. Motorists are urged to respect all road rules and avoid alcohol, speeding, and reckless conduct.
RTMC advised that speed should be reduced when passing residential areas to avoid collisions with pedestrians. Pedestrians are also asked to stay away from the highways.
The agency stated that the law enforcement officers have been instructed to remove people found hitchhiking on these routes.
“Heavy fines will be issued against public transport operators found transporting passengers in contravention of their permits.
“Road users are reminded that safety on the roads is a joint responsibility and it starts with every individual using the road,” concluded RTMC.
