N3 Marrianhill Tollgate: This morning, our highly efficient team from Road Traffic Inspectorate stopped and inspected trucks along the N3.
Unfortunately, some foreign truck drivers, including one from Zambia, were found driving trucks with worn-out tires. These were impounded in order to save innocent lives.
We say prevention is better than cure because worn tires lack the necessary tread to maintain grip, making them prone to skidding, especially on wet surfaces.
In addition, without adequate tread, tires require more time and distance to bring a heavy truck to a complete stop, which is particularly hazardous in emergency situations.
We have decided to be proactive because we have in the past witnessed the disappearance of foreign truck drivers after causing horrific accidents.
We will be intensifying #Nenzani la ezweni operation working with the Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration Unit, the SAPS, the Department of Labour and Employment, the Road Traffic Management Corporation and other agencies.
Our focus is on strengthening the validation and verification of immigration and foreign drivers’ documents.
Finally, we have taken a decision to strengthen our operations in our 17 provincial weighbridge sites in KwaZulu-Natal.
The most vehicles weighed at a single weighbridge were 40 441 vehicles at the Midway weighbridge, with an average of 3 370 vehicles weighed per month.
This is 33% lower than the highest monthly average of 5 027 vehicles weighed in 2023/24 which was recorded at the Mpofana weighbridge.
Truck drivers with overloaded trucks will be charged. We will continue to arrest foreign drivers who fail to produce the necessary documents.
Ends
Issued by the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements
