WITH the Easter long weekend approaching, people will travel to different holidays and religious destinations.
This will be the first Easter period with no COVID-19 restrictions following the knock of the pandemic in the past three years.
With that, there will be a surge in traffic volumes on major routes in the country.
While road safety is a concern, motorists are urged to ensure their vehicles are road worthy.
On Tuesday, 4 April, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, launched the Easter Safety Campaign in Woodmead north of Joburg.
Tshwaku said the launch had to happen earlier to give motorists enough time to prepare to hit the road.
This includes encouraging motorists to renew their vehicle license discs and driver's licenses and ensure their vehicles are road-worthy.
He added:
Joburg Mayor Thapelo Amad said they were aware that they are not a government that punishes its people but a government that cares.
“We are not here as a demonstration of wanting to punish South Africans, but we are here to educate them,” he said.
Further noting the increased number of pedestrian fatalities, both the Mayor and JMPD spokesman Xolani Fihla have urged the public to consider safety precaution measures as a motorist would be doing on their side.
Where religious practices were concerned, EMS spokesman Robert Mulaudzi has advised congregants to shy away from river baptisms.
“With cases of Cholera reported along the Jukskei River, it might be dangerous for our residents to go there and conduct these baptism rituals as this might spike the outbreak numbers.
"We are saying let's refrain from conducting baptism rituals at the river to stop the outbreak of Cholera while also preventing drawing incidents,” Mulaudzi said.
In another related matter, the Gauteng Department of Health will introduce 255 newly acquired Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response vehicles on Wednesday, 5 April.
