Cape cops nab drunks by the dozen

December 24 2013
By Zara Nicholson

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INLSA

Breathalysers were working ovetime as Cape Town roadblocks resulted in 114 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol in one weekend. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

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Cape Town traffic and metro police officers made a string of drink-driving arrests at the weekend, including that of a police constable whose blood alcohol level was nearly double the legal limit.

In a series of roadblocks and operations across the city they arrested 114 suspects and issued several fines.

At a roadblock on Friday evening on Spine and Makabenet roads in Khayelitsha, officers arrested 16 suspects for driving under the influence of alcohol and issued 29 fines for other offences.

At the same roadblock, officers arrested a police constable who had a breathalyser reading of 0.54mg of alcohol per 1000ml of blood.

The policeman also had his service pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition on him at the time of his arrest.

Traffic officers arrested another 10 suspects for driving under the influence of alcohol at a roadblock in Elsies River on Friday where 36 fines for other offences were also issued.

On Saturday, officers arrested eight suspects for driving under the influence of alcohol in the Langa area.

During a traffic task team operation on Sunday in Nyanga, a further six suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. At a roadblock in Belhar, 21 arrests were made for driving under the influence and another 25 arrests in Atlantis.

Executive director for safety and security Richard Bosman said five drivers were arrested at a roadblock on Jan Smuts Drive in Athlone and 11 more during patrols in the CBD, Table View, Elsies River, Bellville South and Atlantis.

In Kraaifontein, a suspect was arrested for assaulting a police officer when members of the metro police responded to a fighting incident at the Cape Gate mall parking area.

ZERO TOLERANCE

“Our festive season preparedness plan has been activated from 1 December and we are ready for the influx of visitors to our wonderful city. I would like to appeal to motorists to be patient and tolerant on the road.

“Our officers have adopted a zero tolerance approach to drunk drivers,” said Bosman.

Officials are also continuing a clampdown on motorists using cellphones while driving, with nearly 2000 cellphones confiscated between August and November. In that period, traffic officers issued fines totalling R17 579.

Of the 1947 cellphones impounded between August and November, around 1500 have been claimed back by motorists, who have to pay a R1000 fine each.

638 CELLPHONES UNCLAIMED

Since the traffic by-law came into effect in 2011 which prohibits the use of cellphones while driving, the city has issued fines to the value of R5.27 million. Of phones confiscated since then, 638 have not been reclaimed.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said there had been a reduction in the number of people using cellphones while driving since the city started confiscating cellphones. Some people were using hands-free devices, which are legal.

“There are, however, drivers who continue to ignore the by-law, hence the continued enforcement focus,” Smith said. - Cape Times

Victim De Lille warns other motorists

December 27 2013
By Jade Otto

 

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inlsa

Mayor Patricia de Lille is the latest victim of a smash and grab at the notorious Vanguard Drive intersection. Photo: Mxolisi Madela

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Cape Town - Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille’s annual leave got off to a hair-raising start when she was a victim of a smash and grab at the notorious N2 and Vanguard Driver intersection.

De Lille was driving alone from Cape Town to a friend in Rylands when she took the Vanguard Drive exit at about 6pm on Christmas Eve.

At the traffic light, she noticed two young men. One walked past her to the back of her private BMW 328 and back to the front again. Seconds later, her passenger side window was smashed.

“It happened in a split second,” De Lille said.

She said the men made off with her handbag which was on the floor on the passenger side of the vehicle. Her watch, R3 000 in cash, cellphone and credit cards were stolen.

“I was so shocked I did not know what to do. The robot changed and cars hooted,” De Lille said.

Metro police officers on Vanguard Drive gave chase but no one was arrested because the suspects disappeared into the Langa area.

A case was opened at Bonteheuwel police station and transferred to Bishop Lavis police.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut said the police were aware of the incident and it was under investigation.

Traut urged motorists to exercise caution when they approached robots. He advised them not stop to near the vehicle in front to avoid being “boxed in and ensure an easy getaway”.

“Conceal valuables, don’t leave cellphones, tablets and laptops on the seat in easy view of would-be criminals,” Traut said.

De Lille advised women, especially because they were seen as soft targets, to place their bags in the boot instead.

“I would like to take this unfortunate opportunity to warn all motorists to take extra care when travelling this festive season.

“Ensure your valuables are out of sight, remain aware of your surroundings and keep your doors locked,” De Lille said.

Traut said that while police were aware of the Vanguard Drive intersection as a hot spot, he did not want to identify other areas of concern because “crime patterns constantly shifted”.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Hundreds dead but traffic peak only expected in next few days

Sapa | 22 December, 2013 13:19

File photo.
Image by: LULAMILE FENI © Daily Dispatch

A traffic peak is expected on major routes just before Christmas, as people head to their holiday destinations, the Road Traffic Management Corporation said on Sunday.

No major accidents had been reported by Sunday, and traffic volumes were still normal, but major delays were expected on Monday and Tuesday, said Thato Mosena.

More than 600 lives have been lost in over 600 road accidents in December, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said on Friday.

Traffic volumes were expected to increase again next Tuesday, just before New Year, and again on January 5 and 6, when people were expected to return from their holidays.

Mosena said a high traffic volumes were experienced when 1000 to 2000 or more vehicles an hour were travelling on a route.

She said more than 2000 vehicles an hour were expected during peak holiday times.

The N1 north between Pretoria, Polokwane and the Beit Bridge border post was expected to be busy, as was the N2 to and from Somerset West and Cape Town.

A lot of traffic coming into Durban from Johannesburg was expected on the N3.

High volumes of vehicles travelling on routes between Mangaung and Cape Town and between Pretoria, Nelspruit and Lebombo were also expected. N3 Toll Concession spokeswoman Andy Visser said on Sunday morning that about 1000 vehicles an hour had been heading out of Gauteng at the tollgates.

About the same number of vehicles was heading out of KwaZulu-Natal, but more, at 1100, were entering the province.

Limpopo roads and transport spokesman Jimmy Machaka said five people had died in accidents in the province since Friday night.

This brought to 39 the death toll since the start of the month. There had been 178 accidents since then.

He said two of the people who died at the weekend were drivers and two were pedestrians. Details of the fifth death, which occurred after midnight in Polokwane, were still being compiled.

He said a traffic official was seriously injured when he was hit by a car a car while conducting a road block in Groblersdal.

Machaka said that many of the accidents were caused by speeding and overtaking in reckless situations.

He urged pedestrians to wear clothing which made then visible to drivers while walking at night.