The Department of Police, Roads and Transport (DPR&T) together with the South African Police Service (SAPS) launched a new anti-gang and bikers’ unit in Zamdela Sasolburg at the Harry Gwala Indoor Centre, on 11 November 2019. The biker’s unit will do surveillance of criminal behaviour in towns such as Sasolburg to identify the possibility of crime even before it occurred.
The purpose of the launch was to bring together the community of Zamdela with the aim of delivering on the promises made on service delivery in the year. One of these promises considered launching an anti-gang unit which is aimed at minimizing the number of murders, abductions, assaults and all other types of crime.
The bikers’ unit seemed to be a fun thing for the youth to observe but these men and women are very serious about their task and work hand-in glove with the local Community roads and are constantly reminded of ways and means to ensure their own safety and that of their passengers.
On 4 December 2019 a road safety training workshop for the members of the Free State Rainbow Meter Taxi Association was held at Lengau by the Transport Directorate’s Training Section headed by Assistant Director, Me. Rachel Scott, in collaboration with the Road Transport Management Corporation (RTMC).
The significance of driver and vehicle fitness as well as the basics of road safety ‘common sense’ – e.g. wearing your seatbelt; keeping to the speed limit; driving in a courteous and cautious way, etc. – was discussed and Me. Marietjie Bekker of the RTMC also let volunteers take part in an animated “driving under the influence” test. Although the incoherent actions of the volunteers when wearing the special goggles mimicking the effect of intoxication drew a lot of laughs, it was very clear that drunk driving is no laughing matter when you are a taxi driver.
The Transport Training division will continue with refresher road safety courses for taxi drivers in the new year.
