By Akani Nkuna
The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, Siboniso Duma, has committed to attend court cases of motorists arrested for drunk and negligent driving, as a sign of solidarity with law enforcement, particularly the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).
In a statement on Monday, Duma said that he hopes his presence at court will convey a strong message to motorists that the provincial government is serious about combating the ills associated with negligent driving.
“I have undertaken to attend some of the court appearances of drunk motorists to support our dedicated RTI team. Importantly, as an executive authority, I am pursuing the case of the mysterious release of a drunk driver who crashed into more than five cars on the N3 near Pietermaritzburg,” he said.
Duma said that Chief Provincial Inspector Thulani Mthembu, who was vigilant enough to avoid the collision, gave chase and caught the fleeing driver about a kilometre away from the accident scene. The driver was found to be five times over the legal alcohol limit.
Duma’s promised court attendances come as KZN sees an increase in serious road accidents that have claimed multiple lives and left dozens injured.
In August, three members of one family were killed after a speeding driver overtook at a barrier line and caused a collision with on-coming cars. The driver fled the scene.
Early in September, 20 learners were injured when a minibus taxi veered off the road in the Pietermaritzburg area, and plunged off a bridge.
Also in September, five pupils were killed and eight others injured when a taxi crashed into a crèche, also in the Pietermaritzburg area.
This past weekend alone, KZN recorded 93 arrests of drunk motorists, which brings the total of drunk drivers arrested since August to 293.
Duma said this indicated the efficiency and dedication of the RTI in ensuring the safety of the roads in the province.
“It will be an abdication of my responsibility not to support our RTI team. They have responded positively and with agility to my mandate that they should be firm and sustain the Zero Tolerance, No Nonsense, and Alufakwa campaign,” Duma added.
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