By Nangamso Mabindla
4 December 2007

EASTERN Cape roads will be safer this festive season, as the provincial government declares war against lawlessness on the province's road network. This was the assurance from roads and transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo at the launch of the R4,5-million Arrive Alive campaign on Monday, 3 December.

Dubbed Operation Safer Festive Season, Mhlahlo said the campaign would ensure that the province stopped at nothing to punish law-breakers on the Eastern Cape roads.

"I know that people will be flocking to our province over the holidays and some of them will be in buses, from as far away as Cape Town. We want to warn bus owners that we will stop any bus that is not roadworthy or travelling during the awkward hours of the day," said Mhlahlo.

All buses travelling to the province needed to use the same schedule as established bus companies like Translux, Greyhound and Roadlink.

"We know that some of the major accidents involving buses are caused by fatigue; so we are going to stop any bus that we see travelling here in the early hours of the morning. Our officers will stop the bus and the people will have to wait there until the driver is fully rested," added Mhlahlo.

The MEC for roads and transport, Thobile Mhlahlo, at the roadblock on the N2

People driving under the influence of alcohol did not escape Mhlahlo's eye; and this year the provincial department planned to arrest and forget about them. "We have other people to worry about; our law-abiding citizens. If we arrest someone driving under the influence, we might release them after the festive season," warned Mhlahlo.

First-time offenders will have their licenses suspended for six months, second-time offenders five years and third-time offenders will have their licences suspended for 10 years.

"We want to show that we are serious about fighting lawlessness on our roads. I want to tell our traffic officers that the fine for driving under the influence is not less than R24 000 or six years in prison."

To ensure that the Arrive Alive campaign was successful, the province would have a 24-hour system for its 481 traffic officers around the province. An additional 20 officers would be added after graduating from the Port Elizabeth College for Traffic Officers.

"We will also be working with the 500 municipal officers around the province, the South African Police and members of the defence force," Mhlahlo said, adding that the provincial government had upgraded its fleet by leasing an additional 16 vehicles from Fleet Africa.

After the launch of the Arrive Alive Campaign, Mhlahlo set up a roadblock on the N2 between East London and King William's Town.