In commemoration of this month, more than 100 traffic officers who are below the age of 35 have embarked on a series of law enforcement operations, ensuring total compliance by all road users. The target of the operations is mainly young motorists due to the recent stats indicating ahigh number of young people involved in road crashes and injuries on the road.
Leading the operations as part of the youth, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Wessels Morweng said the operations are designed to honour the bravery that was demonstrated by the youth of 1976. He implored young law enforcement officers to ensure safety on the roads and work beyond their call of duty.
“With this operation we also intend to build capacity and allow our young officers to take on responsibility as law enforcement officers as they are the future of this department,” he said.
MEC Morweng engaged with motorists, public transport operators and passengers with messages on road safety and compliance to all regulations.
“As young people in law enforcement, we are here to make our roads safer to ensure that the country has sustainable future," these were the words of Provincial Inspector (PI) Marelize de Winnaar of the Rustenburg Provincial Traffic Station.
Being part of the operations, de Winnaar said they will make sure that they keep their professionalism and respect towards motorists as they engage with them throughout the month. “We are here to make sure that everyone stays safe.”
In a two day operation that started prior to youth day,a total number of 957 cars were stopped and three drivers arrested for speeding,55 summonses issued ,ten arrested for drunk and driving, 25 warrant of arrests executed,09 vehicles discontinued, suspected stolen vehicle impounded, one vehicle found with stolen electrical transformer and a total of 152 summonses issued on different defaults such as passenger overload on public transport, operating without the operating licenses, unlicensed vehicles, driving without PDP as well as worn out tyres.
MEC Morweng has since challenged young people in the province to take advantage and utilise the opportunities that are available in the government and private sectors to transform their lives.
“We must honour and pay tribute to the generation that fought the then government by challenging the status quo with problems that we are facing today such as unemployment, social economic challenges, drugs that are prevalent in our society.
We must do all these to ensure that the ’76 generation can be proud of the current generation because what they fought for was a better life for all, and at its centre was the education and economy that are important factors in as far as the betterment of the lives of young people are concerned,” said Morweng.
The young law enforcement officer will continue stamping authority on the road throughout the June Youth month to ensure total compliance.