|
Speeding MPs 'will be fined'
07/12/2006 13:09 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Cabinet ministers caught exceeding the speed limit will be fined, say the Johannesburg metro police.
Chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar said it was only when they travelled in cars driven and escorted by emergency personnel that they were exempt from fines.
He said: "Every person must obey the law. There is no individual above the law. If a minister speeds without an escort, he will be fined."
It was reported this week that a convoy carrying Transport Minister Jeff Radebe sped away from the launch of a traffic safety campaign at which he warned that speed caused 75% of road crashes.
Convoy 'has no speed limit'
Minnaar said such cavalcades had to speed to prevent their charges becoming "sitting ducks. We have to ensure the safety and security of the individual. That is paramount.
"Now to be able to ensure the person is safe and secure, we have to move the person quickly along the freeway."
Minnaar said there were also certain "manoeuvres" officers performed along the way.
There was "no limit" to how fast a convoy could travel, nor was there any ideal speed - as long as the person being escorted was safe.
The law said that emergency personnel - including the South Afrian Police Service, metro police, ambulance, fire and civil defence personnel - were exempt from traffic violations while executing their duties.
MPs 'should apply for escorts'
If they received a fine in the post, they could apply for it to be cancelled if they could prove their identity, where they worked and what they were doing at the time.
He said the Johannesburg metro police had 30 freeway patrol officers trained to perform escort duties. It provided escorts only to ministers, heads of state and high profile people such as visiting royalty.
Ministers wanting an escort had to apply to the chief of the Johannesburg metro police. They did not have to provide their reason for wanting an escort.
The size and composition of the escort was decided by the officer on duty.
Minnaar said that apart from regular escorts, the metro police did one escort some months, six another or even ten sometimes, "depending on what is taking place".
The metro police in Tshwane - scene of Radebe's speeding convoy - was not available for comment on Thursday.
Ministerial spokesperson Collen Msibi said he could not say why Radebe's escort used blue lights when it raced away or if there was any safety risk at the time.
- SAPA
|
News
