Andile Moshoeshoe
THE KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Siboniso Duma has issued a stern warning to motorists who violate traffic laws, saying those who habitually break the law in their home areas will find no refuge in Kokstad and neighbouring towns.
He made the remarks during his visit to Kokstad on Tuesday, September 1, when he was accompanied by mayors from municipalities within the Harry Gwala district.
His visit formed part of a broader programme that included the handover of a house to a disadvantaged family in Umzimkhulu before he proceeded to Kokstad to engage with members of the community.
He also visited the N2 Interchange, a R560-million SANRAL infrastructure project situated at one of the main gateways into Kokstad. The interchange includes sophisticated traffic-control facilities designed to strengthen law enforcement and improve the monitoring of road users entering and leaving the town.
Among the facilities is a weighbridge capable of monitoring heavy vehicles and determining whether trucks are complying with prescribed load limits. The infrastructure is expected to play a critical role in addressing traffic violations and enhancing road safety.
Duma said motorists should not assume that Kokstad’s position on the border between KZN and Eastern Cape makes it a convenient place to evade traffic laws.
“Those who break the law in their areas of origin should not think they can come here and continue doing so. This is the frontline, and there is no turning back,” Duma said.
He further announced that the new traffic-control offices at the interchange are expected to become operational in October. During the engagement, Ayanda Msweli called for improved road signage around Kokstad, arguing that directional signs should be made larger and, where possible, positioned above the roadway to ensure that motorists can see them clearly.
Msweli warned that the current smaller signs could create confusion for motorists and potentially contribute to road accidents, particularly at busy intersections and approaches to the town.
