SA's blue light row to face UN?
2012-01-04 09:07
BLUE LIGHT BRIGADE: The case against South Africa's blue-light cars could be put before the United Nations thanks to Justice Project SA's lobbying.
A lobby group that wants to stop government ministers and other VIP's using blue-light vehicles to move through traffic has accused the minister of transport of ignoring a public petition demanding he take action against the convoys.
Howard Dembovsky, chairman of Justice Project SA, said the petition, containing 46 646 signatures, was "hand-delivered" to the offices of the national department of transport on December 1 and the minister, Sibusiso Ndebele, was given until December 31 to respond.
Dembovsky said: "As a result of Ndebele's inaction a letter has been drafted and delivered to the World Health Organisation at the United Nations."
RECKLESS DRIVING
A spokesman for the transport ministry acknowledged receipt of the petition and told Sapa that the minister would respond in due course.
JPSA is lobbying against blue-light vehicles after a Krugersdorp teenager, Thomas Ferreira, 18, was injured in November 2011 when the car transporting Gauteng housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi, went through a red traffic light.
A blue flashing light was the only warning to motorists that the high-speed luxury car was not going to stop.
Ferreira, who was knocked off his motorcycle, is recovering but has sustained brain damage.
