The City of uMhlathuze has stepped up tactics and efforts to fight deadly lawlessness taking place on the roads. The city has resuscitated the programme to clamp down on speedsters and equipped Traffic Officers with new speed timers (cameras) installed with the latest technology through a three-year contract with the Traffic Management Technologies Services, a company authorised to supply speed cameras.

City Mayor Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo says this is in response to the fight against road carnages and traffic transgressors in the city roads. “Our ultimate goal is to create a nation that is law abiding, sensible and tolerant amongst each other on the road while we are working hard to improve the quality of our road network. Some drivers take advantage of our tarred stretches of road and drive way beyond the speed limit thus putting people’s lives in danger including theirs. Our efforts to bolster economic situations through creating fun in our city and encourage business people to ensure that people visit our city at all time and enjoy night life, are undermined by some who drink and drive. We will protect them as well as those who will be in danger of being killed or injured by drunken drivers through enforcing the road traffic act and arrest them,” Says Mhlongo.

Mhlongo also cited the negative economic impact caused by accidents. “Statistics shows that most people who die on our roads are young people who have just entered in the mainstream economy as well as breadwinners who are either going or coming from fending off for their families. This does not only leave void in their families but cripple the economy,” Mhlongo says.

Eight Traffic Officials will be dedicated to the Speed Timing operations with sufficient equipment to cover the whole city. The City has also purchased more breathalyser kits for all Traffic Officials. Operations for these projects is already underway and will be in operation during the day and at night throughout the year.