STATEMENT BY NEIL CAMPBELL , GAUTENG DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE SPOKESPERSON ON ROADS AND TRAFFIC

Tshwane mayor's high speed drive was reckless says DA 

The Tshwane Metro's mayoral   spokesperson  has attempted to justify the  140 kph dash of Gwen Ramakgopa  and her MMC team through the streets of the city, in total defiance of the 60 and 70 kph speed restrictions, by stating that ‘a tight schedule demanded that she travel at that speed'. The spokesperson also erroneously states that Metro police do not have to obey the traffic laws!!

It is no wonder that we have such appalling road traffic accidents when Tshwane's first citizen arrogantly breaks the law with the abetment of the very traffic officers who are supposed to  enforce that law.

A police officer can only disregard traffic rules if it is safe to do so and if it is a matter of life or death.

A poorly managed time schedule does not qualify under the gravitas clause and the mayor and police should be called to account.

Bloated by the self inflated egos the ‘elite' of the ruling party set themselves above the law - a typical ‘banana republic' phenomenon.

In addition, the almost bankrupt city she runs is picking up the tab for heaven knows how many traffic officers required to force other legitimate road users off the very roads that they pay taxes to use. This is just another abuse of power that has become so common place in South Africa.

How can the ordinary citizen be expected to obey the laws when the very people who draft and enforce them see fit to disobey them?

Statement issued by Neil Campbell,  Democratic Alliance Gauteng spokesperson on roads and traffic, March 25 2010

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