KAROO NEWS - About 4650 vehicles were stopped, and 57 undocumented foreign nationals arrested, as the Eastern Cape Department of Transport marked Women's Day by hosting all-female multi-disciplinary roadblocks in four districts in the province on Women's Day, 9 August.
Unathi Bonqose, spokesperson for the department, says provincial female traffic officers joined forces with their counterparts from the Northern Cape, members of SAPS as well as officials from the departments of Home Affairs and Labour to drive the initiative.
He says the biggest of these operations was led by Transport MEC, Xolile Nqatha in the border town of Middelburg - the main entry point for dozens of manganese trucks from Kuruman in the Northern Cape on their way to the harbour in Gqeberha.
Similar operations were held in the OR Tambo, Alfred Ndzo, Joe Gqabi and Sarah Baartman districts.
Combined successes
- 4 651 vehicles were stopped,
- 351 fines were issued for no proof of driver permits, no number plates, expiry of license discs etc,
- R214 600 worth of fines were issued, and
- 57 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested.
Transport MEC, Xolile Nqatha said the operation highlighted the strength of women in the country.
"Just like the women of 1956 before them, who took a firm stand that changed for the better the trajectory of our country. Our women took a stand to rid our roads of criminal elements. We salute them for refusing to be pampered this Women's Month, opting to pump their energy into law enforcement. We pledge to support all their efforts during their month-long campaign," said Nqatha.
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