KwaZulu-Natal's Operation Niyenzanienzweni: A Successful Festive Season Traffic Initiative

As South Africa navigates through the festive season, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has reported impressive results from its ongoing operation, Niyenzanienzweni (in action), Including fewer road deaths.

The operation has halted approximately 73,055 vehicles and issued 10,953 charges to motorists for various traffic offences, including speeding and driving without licences.

The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, shared the findings during an engagement with motorists at the Marrianhill Toll Plaza along the N3 on Saturday.

In addition to the roadblocks, the operation has resulted in over 500 arrests for drunk driving, while 659 unlicensed vehicles were intercepted, and 704 motorists were found operating without driver's licences.

Duma commended the dedicated work of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and the collaboration with national and municipal traffic officers, which he deemed integral to the operation's success.

“We commend our energised team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate for their visibility throughout the corners of the province,” he said, expressing appreciation for the support received from the National Traffic Police and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

"This ongoing operation, which commenced on December 1, highlights a concerted effort to ensure road safety during this critical period.

"Preliminary figures suggest a decline in road fatalities compared to the same timeframe last year.

"National Transport Department announced a 20.8% reduction in fatalities since the beginning of December, according to a midterm review released by the National Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy.

“We value the support from the National Traffic Police, SAPS, and municipal traffic officers,” said MEC Duma.

The number of fatal crashes last year at this time was 545 as compared to the 431 presently. The fatal crashes in 2024 claimed 638, thus far 505 persons have lost their lives this year

As a show of support, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) welcomed the reduction in fatalities, and said that such results were indicative of the positive impact of the coordinated efforts across multiple sectors.

SANTACO spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Phala highlighted the importance of shared responsibility among all road users: “Safety on the roads requires shared accountability from all road users.”

Phala said the taxi industry was committed to ensuring the safety of commuters, stating, “Through our 'Hlokomela' road safety campaign, we stress the significance of vehicle roadworthiness, driver discipline, fatigue management, and compliance with traffic regulations.”

The authorities were hopeful that the current trajectory will result in even more significant reductions in fatalities and promote responsible road usage across the province, by the end of the holiday season.

DAILY NEWS