The Gauteng Provincial Government’s efforts to strengthen road safety and law enforcement continued through various high-impact stop-and-search operations led by the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI), in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) officers.
GTI’s operations are part of a coordinated strategy to improve visibility, tackle lawlessness, combat criminal activity, and enhance compliance with traffic legislation, particularly within the public transport sector.
During the week of March 1 to 8, intensified enforcement operations were conducted across various cities, including Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, and Tshwane. These strategically targeted major public and scholarly transport corridors have been identified as high-risk.
The operations led to:• GTI officers discontinued 66 minibus taxis, with five impounded for failure to meet essential road safety requirements.• An additional 95 private vehicles were issued with discontinuity notices.
Officers found defects including faulty braking systems, worn tyres, broken headlights, defective brake lights or indicators, and cracked windscreens – all of which pose serious risks to other road users.
The officers further issued infringement notices to non-compliant public transport operators:• More than 1 000 manual infringement notices were issued.• Over 1 308 electronic infringement notices were processed using the inspectorate’s advanced e-Force devices.
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Non-compliance identified during operations included:• Two hundred and eighty-nine minibus taxi operators were found driving without valid licences.• One hundred and thirty-nine minibuses operating without valid license discs.
GTI officers also attended to a variety of serious offences, resulting in 11 arrests:• Ten drivers for driving drunk (DUI).• One for reckless and negligent driving.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, commended the inspectorate’s efforts in their consistent and proactive enforcement approach. She has, however, expressed her disappointment in those who continue to conduct themselves unlawfully and take chances with the law.
“The work of the GTI must be commended and serve as a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to safer roads and accountable public transport operations. We will continue to intensify enforcement to ensure vehicles operating on our public roads are roadworthy and operators are fully compliant with traffic laws,” she said.
She reiterated that the safety of all road users remains the provincial government’s top priority. The MEC stated that the inspectorate’s stop-and-search operations will remain a key pillar of the province’s road safety and law enforcement programme.
“Through sustained visibility and decisive action, the department continues to reinforce the message that lawlessness on Gauteng’s roads will not be tolerated,” she added.
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