Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has called for the driver of the vehicle that mowed down six joggers, killing five of them, in Johannesburg on Saturday to be charged with murder.
According to reports, the driver of a Mercedes-Benz ML500 rammed into the runners preparing for next month's Soweto Marathon at about 6am on the corner of Olifantsfontein and Lever roads in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Witnesses claim he was so drunk that he had to be reminded that he had driven into the group of joggers.
"We want to convey condolences to the families and colleagues of the group of joggers who were killed in this horrific road crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during these difficult moments," Ndebele said.
"Following allegations that the driver of the vehicle was drunk, the driver should be charged with murder. We are calling upon the investigation team and Directorate of Public Prosecutions to ensure that, should there be evidence to suggest that the driver intentionally violated road traffic rules and drove in a reckless manner resulting in death, murder charges be brought against the driver," the Minister said.
Ndebele reiterated that road users who disobey the rules of the road would face the consequences of their actions.
"We have already commenced with our December festive season law enforcement operations, and we want to warn road users that no mercy will be shown to any person who commits any traffic violation," he said, adding that during this Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 to 2020 campaign, traffic law enforcement will be intensified without compromise in order to make our roads safe.
Yesterday 57 drunk drivers were arrested in Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape, and 29 drunk drivers were arrested in the Western Cape on Friday and Saturday.
At least 20 000 drunk drivers have been arrested across South Africa over the past eleven months.
From October 2010 to September 2011, 19 780 drunk drivers have been arrested.
In the Western Cape alone, almost 50 drivers have been sentenced to jail for drunk driving in the past year. Since 1 October 2010, 664 drivers have been sentenced in the province for drunk-driving offences, 47 of whom were sent directly to jail without the option of paying fines or serving another type of sentence.
One was jailed for four years, six for three years and the remaining 40 for between six months and two-and-a-half years. A further 12 had their licences cancelled.
As part of the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) announced by Ndebele in September last year, from October 2010 to September 2011, 14 017 190 vehicles and drivers were checked, 5 978 981 fines issued for various traffic offences, 19 780 drunk drivers arrested and 53 341 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are buses and taxis) discontinued from use.
Meanwhile on Friday, a man was arrested for transporting 176 passengers in his bus in Mooinooi outside Brits, in the North West. He had overloaded the bus by 42 people. He was charged with gross overloading and would appear in the Brits Magistrate's court tomorrow.
During the past week as part of the pre-December holiday clean-up operation, more than 200 buses were removed from service in a clampdown on unroadworthy vehicles in Gauteng and the North West by the National Traffic Police (NTP).
Most common defects included brakes, tyres, windscreens, severe oil leaks and faded chevrons and contour markings.
On Thursday, Minister Ndebele and Gauteng MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi joined the NTP during an operation at the Putco Bus Depot in New Canada Road in Johannesburg.
Since 31 August 2011, more than 1 760 un-roadworthy buses and taxis have been taken off South Africa's roads, following Minister Ndebele's instruction that every bus and taxi must be stopped and checked.
From 31 August to 9 October 2011, 340 790 public transport vehicles were stopped and checked, 1 111 mini-buses, 653 buses and 355 trucks discontinued from use, 58 618 fines issued for various public transport offences, more than 1 478 public transport drivers arrested including 256 for drunk driving, 1,000 for overloading, 75 for excessive speed, 23 for reckless and/or negligent driving and 97 in connection with public transport permits.
Last month alone, more than 3 900 arrests were affected and 3,069 vehicles discontinued from use. From 1 to 30 September 2011, 1 033 070 vehicles and drivers were checked and 438 706 fines issued for various traffic offences.
