Officials from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) reveal all the motorists were arrested between Kroonstad and Bloemfontein, with the vast majority of those apprehended in the ‘City of Roses’. These alarming figures were revealed by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, as he engaged motorists during the Free State leg of his department’s Arrive Alive campaign on the N8 road just before Botshabelo this Sunday (October 13). The campaign was meant to stress the importance of road safety in the midst of the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe).

Prior to Mbalula’s arrival at the scene, a disgruntled motorist sped away from the roadblock and was chased by officials from the National Traffic Police Department. The motorist lost control shortly thereafter, crashing his vehicle into one of the concrete barriers on the dangerous road. Mbalula says the uninjured motorist who was travelling with three of his family members was arrested.

“He will face charges of drunk driving, obstruction of the law, undermining law officers and so on,” says Mbalula. The Minister says people must enjoy themselves, but must abide by the law. “There is a lot of drunk driving on the roads,” he cautions.

At least 22 people were nabbed for speeding offences, with the highest speed recorded thus far in the Macufe operations being 206km/h in a 120km/h zone. In total, 16 vehicles have been impounded and thus far 66 traffic fines and notices have been issued. The traffic authorities will continue to conduct roadblocks in the Mangaung area as Macufe draws to a close. An RTMC official tells OFM News the Park Road and Mangaung cluster jail cells are reportedly full of motorists who have committed various offences. The Macufe traffic statistics will be updated in due course.

OFM News