What is the story behind Sanral’s involvement in highway road blocks?
JOBURG – DA spokesperson on Community Safety Michele Clarke questions the involvement of Sanral during road blocks on Gauteng highways.
After hearing complaints by provincial road users on radio, Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Community Safety, Michele Clarke, questioned the MEC of Community Safety about the alleged partnership between the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and Gauteng Traffic Police at roadblocks in Gauteng.
Clarke said she had witnessed the presence of a Sanral e-toll van herself during a road block by the Gauteng Traffic Police.
“The MEC [Sizakele Nkosi-Malebane] admitted that Sanral has no official mandate at these roadblocks and that they play only a supportive role by providing advanced technology,” Clarke said in a statement.
She said according to Nkosi-Malebane, only Gauteng Traffic Police are able to stop vehicles and conduct general law enforcement.
On the topic of intimidation, Clarke said the MEC allegedly denied any intimidation on the part of Sanral or the traffic officers with regards to forcing people to buy e-tags, as Nkosi-Malobane had been present during a road block.
“This, however, is contrary to many reported incidents of such intimidation by members of the public in recent weeks,” Clarke alleged.
“Of course they would not misbehave if she is present,” Clarke reckoned
“I urge the MEC to thoroughly investigate these reports and to provide clear steps as to how the department will ensure that this does not continue.”
Clarke said, “I think we are sending out a very bad message to provincial road users if our traffic officers are going to behave like that.”
She urges members of the public who experience such incidents to report these immediately to the DA via 060 558 8309.
“I will undertake to raise all of these reports directly with the MEC,” Clarke concluded. Nkosi-Malebane was not available to comment at the time of going to print.
