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The ANC has refused to debate a DA motion that would have banned blue lights in Gauteng. ANC members of the programming committee of the Gauteng Legislature said that it should not be debated because it had been dealt with earlier by Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane, when she said that blue lights on vehicles were for the safety of Members of the Executive and that they needed them for emergencies.

ANC Chief Whip, Brian Hlongwa, also said that if the motion was placed on the order paper the ANC would refuse to debate it and “go and have tea.”

The motion calls for blue lights to be removed from MEC’s official vehicles and also calls on the Executive to instruct municipal mayors and councillors to refrain from using blue lights.

We have seen that official vehicles of the Executive are driven irresponsibly and that neither the drivers nor MECs are prepared to be held accountable. Both Gauteng Local Government and Housing MEC, Humphrey Mmemezi, and Gauteng Health MEC, Ntombi Mekgwe's, official vehicles have been involved in accidents where members of the public were injured. Neither instance could be called an emergency.

We should follow the example of DA-run Western Cape which has removed all blue lightsfrom provincial vehicles and are rolling out an education programme for members of the public and law enforcement officers to ensure that the illegal use of blue lights is dealt with.

It is clear that the ANC know that they would come off second best in a debate as the use of blue lights cannot be justified and this is why they are avoiding a healthy debate on this issue.

NOTICE OF MOTION
SUBMITTED IN TERMS OF RULE 121 (2) (d)
14 June 2012
 

I, Ms K. L. Lorimer, of the Democratic Alliance, hereby request the placing of a Motion in terms of Rule 121 (2) (d)

Subject: Motion on vehicles using blue lights

Noting

1. The number of incidents where vehicles using blue lights in the Gauteng Province are driven recklessly in contravention of the National Road Traffic Act.

2. That Western Cape Provincial Government has removed all blue lights from the vehicles of members of the provincial executive.

3. That KwaZulu/Natal Provincial Government has instructed that all blue lights be removed from the vehicles of mayors, councillors and municipal managers.

This House resolves to recommend :

1. That the Gauteng Executive Council take a decision to remove all blue lights from the vehicles of Members of the Executive Council.

2. That the Gauteng Executive Council take a decision to instruct that all blue lights be disallowed on the vehicles of mayors, councillors and municipal managers in Gauteng.

3. That the Department of Community Safety compile an awareness plan to inform members of the public that the unauthorised use of blue lights and sirens is an offence, and to provide for a reporting mechanism if abuse is witnessed. The plan should include a mechanism to inform all law enforcement officials in the Province that abuse of blue lights and sirens will not be tolerated and action will be taken against offenders.