Following his meeting with law enforcement agencies on Friday(23 March 2018) to outline plans of ensuring safety during the Easter holidays, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda today (25 March 2018) attended a prayer for Safety held in Matiwane, near Ladysmith.
The prayer was preceded by MEC Kaunda attending an integrated law enforcement operation on the N11 just outside Ladysmith where vehicles were stopped and checked for all traffic violations and also searched for illegal possessions. He then in the company of the Head of Department of Transport Mr Sbusiso Gumbi, local leadership, gospel artists and interfaith members proceeded to participate in a peace walk in the community of Matiwane. This walk was aimed at urging members of the community to be safety ambassadors and advocate for safety on the roads and in communities.
Addressing over two thousand congregants, Kaunda urged leaders from different religious denominations to pray for divine intervention in curbing road fatalities and social ills in communities. He urged members of society to change their mindset towards road safety and behave responsibly. Of more concern to MEC Kaunda, particularly in Ladysmith, was for public transport operators to conduct their operations in a peaceful manner. This he said following the recent killings related to taxi operations which led to many innocent lives being lost. However, he commended operators for the peace and calm in the area, which came subsequent to his decision to shut down operations in the area.
“It was not by chance that we decided to hold a peace and safety prayer in this area. The loss of innocent lives due to taxi-related violence has to stop. We need to bring dignity in this lucrative industry and allow it to be regulated and operated professionally. Conflicts and disagreements need to be resolved through bilateral discussions, not through a barrel of a gun. We will continue to work with SANTACO in bringing peace and stability throughout the province. We further urge all religious leaders and other community formations to unite with us in preaching safety messages to save lives,” added Kaunda.
MEC Kaunda assured the congregants that law enforcement operations and safety educational programmes will be intensified throughout the Easter holidays and beyond. He called on all road users to obey the rules and ensure that they travel with roadworthy vehicles. He further urged community members to report all criminal activities to the police.
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Prayer meeting held ahead of Easter holidays in Matiwane near Ladysmith https://t.co/mO6iIpIUzb #ArriveAlive @KZNTransport pic.twitter.com/JJqqtgBgbt
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 26, 2018
