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SA's blue light row to face UN?

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.
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