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CAPE TOWN - On Wednesday (August 13), Wheels24 reported that Transport minister Dipuo Peters said it was important to make South African roads safer to reduce carnage.
In a speech at the third Africa Road Safety Seminar in Cape Town, Peters said: "The rate of road traffic fatalities has reached an unacceptably high level. Public transport is featuring prominently in the modern economic trajectory of the fifth administration and it is indeed our responsibility to ensure that it is safe."
Peters said the department's commitment included R580-million for administration and enforcement of road traffic legislation, over the period 2014/15 to 2016/17.
'DISCIPLINE' NEEDED
Wheels24 reader JOE BLACK believes that SA does not have adequate resources to 'police the police':
For a disciplined police force you need, well, discipline. It has to come from the top like a tonne of bricks. It’s the only way.
The concept of dirty cops is nothing new but I cannot help but feel that not enough resources are expended on policing the police.
Adequate and maintained internal investigation procedures would go a long way to ensure less corruption, I mean it’s not like it’s an ‘unknown issue’.
‘IN FOR A NASTY SURPRISE’
Ask anyone and they'll tell you that when the police apprehend you, more often than not out comes their ‘hand’ (for a bribe) and if ignored, there’s a good chance you’re in for a nasty surprise.
I can only thank my lucky stars that I have been spared such a situation but sadly, many, many drivers have experienced this. Why is this not properly investigated?
Not to mention that it is almost impossible to fire anybody these days, even a dirty cop. A cop basically has to murder somebody before he’s first placed on paid suspension and then, pending an investigation, dropped from the force, regardless of whether actual criminal charges are ever pressed.
I stand to be corrected but does anything ever happen to dirty cops?
MORE READER RESPONSES
Wheels24 reader JANNIE SNYMAN says that South Africa should adopt a "points-based" system: "Bring in the points system and it should apply totally and be enforced. Still, the big question mark is whether we have the ability and will to do it?"
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