At a meeting of the City’s Safety and Security Portfolio today the continuing attacks on enforcement and emergency service staff members were strongly condemned. A report tabled at the meeting referred specifically to senseless attacks on Fire and Rescue personnel.
Attacks on Fire Service personnel often goes further than verbal abuse, physical attacks and the destruction of vehicles. These selfish acts deprive those members of the community who could be in a life threating situation. Enforcement staff also face dangerous situations on a daily basis – this comes with the enforcement and security environment but when vehicles are stoned and officers are stopped in pursuit of criminals, which makes it extremely difficult to protect law-abiding citizens.
During the meeting reference was also made to the effectiveness of enforcing the amended traffic by-law to create a safer road environment by enforcing the by-law equally throughout the metropole. The by-law makes provision for the impoundment of vehicles in certain instances, including:
- Where the vehicle was involved in reckless or negligent driving or illegal street racing
- The driver is under the influence of alcohol
- The driver is unlicensed
- The driver disobeys an instruction to stop or pull over, resulting in pursuit
- The vehicle is unregistered, has an expired licence disc older than 90 days, is not roadworthy or has been abandoned
The amended by-law also includes a section that focuses on unlicensed public transport vehicles.
‘The City of Cape Town has a responsibility to do more to contribute to a safer community and to ensure that drivers of vehicles adhere to the relevant road traffic by-laws and regulations. Any senseless attack on enforcement staff and emergency service personnel is an attack on the community. Damaging and destroying vehicles is destroying valuable assets that are needed to help those who could be in trouble. It is often the very same persons who take the law into their own hands that later request the service of fire and rescue personnel. Communities have a responsibility to allow staff members to serve and protect. We will work closely with communities to put a stop to those who prefer violent behaviour above meaningful dialogue and disrupt, intimidate and destroy, said the Chairperson of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, Councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe.
The amended Traffic By-law can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3PVsOYn
Members of the public can report criminal activities by phoning 021 480 7700 from a cell phone and 107 from a landline.
