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Gauteng motorists’ lives are in danger as 13 incidents of road spikes have occurred over a period of 12 months along the R104 road also known as the Bronkhorspruit road in Pretoria as well as the N4 from Pretoria to Bronkhorspruit.

Motorists already do not feel safe driving at night because there is no monitoring of the Gauteng highways during the night.

In a recent incident, two people were impacted by criminals who placed spikes along the R104; a case of attempted murder has been opened and no arrests were made.

When such incidents occur the immediate reaction by a driver is to dead stop the vehicle, while some curve to the side of the road. In most cases motorists experience tyre bursts and lose control of the car, making them prone to rolling their car and dying on the scene.

This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

Of the 13 cases of road spikes reported along the R104 road , only two arrests have been made with no convictions as the case are still pending in court.

MEC Mazibuko states that there have been increased patrols in the area by SAPS members. There are two operations conducted weekly and CPF members patrol the area using drones.

This is not enough to curb this crime as these incidents are increasing drastically and there is no 24-hour monitoring of our roads.

The DA demands answers as to when the Gauteng Traffic Police will be declared an essential service following the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula’s public announcement in March calling for the fast-tracking of the process to declare traffic police a 24-hour and a 7-day job.

Furthermore, in the Gauteng 2022/2023 tabled budget there was an allocation made to ensure that the Gauteng Traffic Service is declared an essential service. We will be tabling written questions to MEC Mazibuko in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain the progress in this regard.

The safety of motorists is under threat, and we will not rest until there is a 24-hour road monitoring of Gauteng roads

Issued by DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety, Crezane Bosch MPL