The MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr. Willies Mchunu, has warned all road users to exercise patience and tolerance and to be extra vigilant ahead of the annual Comrades Marathon on Sunday ( 31 May 2015).

The marathon is expected to attract a heavy flow of motorists as athletes make their way to the province to participate in the country's most popular long distance marathon. This year, the marathon runners will test their fitness and stamina over the 90 kilometre up-run from Kings Mead Stadium in Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

The activity typically impacts the normal flow of traffic in both cities. Law enforcement officers have been dispatched to deal with the influx through all major routes leading into both cities. Enforcement operations in other parts of the province which are not affected by the influx of traffic, will continue as planned, to deal with lawlessness.

Mchunu urged motorists to maintain calm on the road, show patience and avoid taking closed routes.

“We welcome the athletes, and other visitors, who will be in our province for this weekend to participate in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday. At the same time, we wish to appeal to public transportation operators and individual motorists to be extra vigilant and ensure that the lives of all road users are safeguarded. This means we all must strictly observe road traffic rules, signs, and exercise the all-important patience and tolerance. Our multi-disciplinary law enforcement teams involving our Road Traffic Inspectorate, the SAPS, metro police from both cities, will be out in full force to ensure that they deal decisively with bad behaviour,” said Mchunu.

Issued by the KZN Department of Transport