Law enforcement officials inspected motorvehicles and trucks on the M7 in Durban, targeting non-compliance and unsafe freight vehicles.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
Law enforcement agencies are expected to increase random vehicle inspections on major routes in KwaZulu-Natal in the build-up to the Easter weekend.
Siboniso Duma, the MEC in KZN for Transport and Human Settlements, sounded the warning after an enforcement blitz focused on freight vehicles and other road users travelling along the M7-Solomon Mahlangu Drive (previously Edwin Swales VC Drive).
The route is predominantly used by trucks between Pinetown and the Port of Durban.
The road safety operation was conducted by eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) in partnership with Durban metro police, the South African Police Service, the Fire Department, and the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto).
Nelisiwe Zama, the acting head of ETA, said similar operations will continue to reduce road crashes and promote responsible driving behaviour across eThekwini.
The municipality stated that R368,400 in fines was issued. During the operation, the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) pulled over a freight truck whose company was found to have accumulated R297,000 in outstanding speeding fines.
In addition, motorists were fined for a range of violations, including failure to display a licence disc, faulty tyres, and disregarding compulsory road signs.
The RTI recorded R310,500 in fines, while the metro police issued fines worth R34,900. The eThekwini Fire Department issued R23,000 in fines for various infringements.
“The road safety plan prioritises freight-related enforcement due to crash patterns associated with speeding, overloading, and unroadworthy heavy vehicles,” Zama said.
Duma said his team will continue with the road safety campaign #NenzaniLaEzweni operations beyond the Easter Weekend.
“We will be strengthening our operations in strategic routes such as M7 and other routes,” he said.
Advocate Johan Jonck, the spokesperson for Arrive Alive, said they support visible and effective traffic enforcement as a crucial part of making roads safe.
“The amount in fines reveals how many lawless road users share the roads with us daily, and only when we remove them from the roads, or change their attitude towards obeying the rules of the roads, will we be able to make roads safer,” he said.
Nilesh Maharaj, who has been advocating for traffic violations to be addressed on the M7, was pleased that meaningful action was taken after his correspondence with municipal and law enforcement officials.
Maharaj said infrastructure upgrades to the road to improve safety, including an arrestor bed for trucks, should also be considered.
He said he has been in communication through emails with the Department of Transport, adding that road users must feel safe travelling on the M7.
“This is only the beginning of what should be, persistent proactive action, not only by law enforcement, but will require involvement of other relevant departments. We await further advice on their short, medium, and long-term action plans from the department. We cannot afford any further loss of lives or injuries due to the remissness of actionable proactive measures that should be implemented,” Maharaj said.
Councillor Jay Singh, representing the United Independent Movement (UIM) in the municipality, said road safety was a priority.
“The law enforcement agencies did not pay lip service to road users' requests for enhanced safety and visible police. This is an excellent outcome on this dangerous stretch of road,” he said.