FEMALE law officials manned a roadblock on the N2 at Amalinda Main Road as part of activities to mark Women's Month, observed each year in August.

The roadblock, aimed at encouraging motorists to stick to the laws of the road and curb road accidents, took place on Friday 13 August, from 9am until late afternoon.

Organised by Buffalo City's traffic unit; the department of transport, safety and liaison; the South African National Defence Force; and the South African Police Service, over 50 officials took part.

Addressing them, the MEC for transport, safety and liaison, Ghishma Barry, said: "Today, I would like to salute all participants in this roadblock for their bravery, which is a clear illustration of your commitment to deal with social stereotypes and the underestimation of women's potential, especially in law enforcement careers."

She added that the government had again committed itself to ensuring that policies on gender equality were implemented through massive recruitment of young women. And she spoke about Eastern Cape Province's law enforcement learnership programme.

"In our traffic law enforcement learnership programme, in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and beyond, we made sure that we had a significant number of female youth, who were sent to Traffic College."

These women were integrated into the provincial Special Operations Task Team for further training and they played a pivotal role in the success of the team's work during its 20-month duration.

Wrapping up the roadblock, Buffalo City's traffic and law enforcement services commander, Benny Martin, said the day was set aside to recognise the role played by women in the traffic and law enforcement fraternity. "The objective of this roadblock is to recognise and display the capabilities of our female officers in combating road traffic offences and also celebrate with them Women's Month."

With assistance from Buffalo City's K58 trailer, sponsored by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the female traffic officials stamped their authority by issuing summons to motorists caught breaking traffic laws, and by taking unroadworthy vehicles off the road.

It was also pointed out that a reflective emergency warning triangle was now a compulsory item in cars, as a means to help make roads safer.

Charles Reynolds, the chief director of traffic management in the province, explained that all vehicles registered after 1 July 2007 had to carry at least one emergency warning triangle sign in terms of the National Road Traffic Act.

"Motorists without a triangle in their car could be fined up to R500." The only vehicles excluded from this regulation were ambulances, cars registered before 1 July 2007, motorcycles, motor tricycles and motor quadricycles.

Reynolds said goods vehicles, minibuses and buses registered before 1 July 2007 would not be allowed on a public road without at least one emergency reflective triangle sign in the vehicle.

"Prior to 1 July 2007, only goods vehicles such as trucks, buses and minibuses were required to carry the sign, but now it applies to everybody due to the changed legislation for safety reasons."