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MEC Shongwe wants to reduce road accidents by 30% this festive season 

09 November 2011

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe says his department will work hard this festive season to reduce road accidents by at least 30%.

Shongwe was speaking during a Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster meeting held in Pine lake Inn outside White River yesterday [08 November 2011].

Representatives from the department, South African Police Services, Home Affairs, Justice, SARS, NIA and Social Development attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Shongwe urged all the stakeholder departments to support all operations planned by either the department or SAPS for the festive season in order to attain the goal of reducing road accidents.  

He added that with the successes that the new Traffic Intervention Unit is making, it is possible for the department to reach that goal.

He further applauded the TIU for all the successes made since it was launched, and however said that there is a need to sustain the improvements by getting support from the other stakeholders. 

Meanwhile, MEC Shongwe urged the department of Justice to support the hard working police by making sure that criminals are convicted. 

“I therefore appeal to the Department of Justice to make sure that criminals, especially those who kill other people either violently or by road accidents be given maximum sentence so that it sends a strong message to the wrong doers in our communities that crime does not pay,” said Shongwe.

He also mentioned that in other provinces, drivers who get involved in road accidents while under the influence of alcohol and kill people are generally charged with murder, instead of culpable homicide. “This should also happen in the province,” he said. 

The matter involving the functioning of police stations and the involvement of the community in the fight against crime was also discussed. It was agreed that the relevant departments should put an effort to ensure that police stations and other police resources are utilised optimally for the benefit of the public. 

A call was made to the police and the Justice department to work seamlessly to ensure that victims of crime are always protected from perpetrators, and that they should be supported by other government departments such as SARS and Correctional Services. 

The members of the JCPS also discussed the challenges and successes regarding the operation of law enforcement agencies, judiciary services, fraud and corruption; establishment of Ehlanzeni One Stop Child Justice Centre; and the need to focus on liquor traders in order to get rid of all those who do not comply with the liquor Act. 

To effectively enhance law enforcement in the province, the meeting took a decision to work on a consolidated operational plan for major crime fighting programmes, especially now that the country is approaching the festive season.

This was supported by Major General Thulani Phahla, the deputy provincial SAPS commissioner who indicated that joint operations will assist government in arresting wanted criminals, confiscating stolen goods and eradicating road accidents.

Enquiries:

Joseph Mabuza
Tel:
013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450

Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison

 

 


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