Mbalula: Focus on drunk drivers who attempt to bribe cops
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says the department will focus on motorists who attempt to bribe officers when they are caught flouting the rules of the road.
Mbalula was speaking at the official launch of 2022/23 festive season road safety campaign at the Heidelberg Weighbridge on the N3 on Thursday.
The minister warned that law enforcement officers will be on the roads to ensure that motorists adhere to the rules.
"A stern warning must go to those who believe they can drive under the influence of alcohol on our roads with impunity because they have the means to bribe law enforcement officials.
"Our anti-corruption efforts will focus on these wayward motorists and those law enforcement officials who either accept or solicit these bribes.
"This is cancer we are determined to uproot if we are to make a telling difference in making our roads safer.
"This year, our traffic law enforcement has been given a boost with the deployment of new technology, called the e-force.
The e-force will enable our officers to prosecute more traffic offenders, as it enables them to identify drivers and ownership of vehicles by simply scanning the drivers’ licenses and vehicle discs.
"Those who drive around with vehicle discs obtained fraudulently will be apprehended," said Mbalula.
He said public transport operators will also not be allowed to disregard to law.
"Multi-disciplinary law enforcement operations will be conducted over the festive season to stop and check trucks and buses for roadworthiness on these routes as part of a nationwide operation.
"Traffic authorities will also use the automatic number plate recognition technology to determine if trucks and buses travelling on the identified routes comply with road regulations."
ALSOREAD
