Three dagga busts by Provincial Traffic Services in one week

Media release by Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape Minister of Mobility

I am exceptionally proud of our Provincial Traffic Services (PTS), who recently detected over 70 bags of compressed dagga, weighing over 500kg, in vehicles traveling on the N1 towards Cape Town. The total estimated value is R 2 million and these busts resulted in five arrests for transporting, possession and dealing in dagga.

The dagga was seized on three different occasions in the space of one week, during the routine operations of our Traffic Inspectors, who are working hard 365 days a year to keep our roads safe for all. The weekly results of PTS operations for 22 to 26 March 2023 demonstrate the impact of our modern, high-technology and hard-hitting traffic enforcement and road safety teams.

On 20 March, during a routine inspection by PTS on the N1 near Laingsburg, 31 bags of compressed dagga were found in a Toyota minibus travelling with a trailer. The following day, 21 March, 23 bags of compressed dagga were seized from a Scania bus at a roadblock on the N1 near Rietfontein. On Friday 24 March, PTS inspectors managing the Rawsonville weigh bridge discovered 23 bags of high-quality compressed dagga inside a LDV vehicle, with an estimated value of R 1.2 million.

The Western Cape’s Integrated Transport Hub sets us apart. In the year ahead, we will continue to expand our province-wide network of licence-plate reading cameras designed to monitor road traffic, enabling the immediate detection of road traffic infringements, contraventions and crime, including unroadworthy, unlicensed, and off-route vehicles; cloned number plates; fatigued drivers, and vehicles known to be involved in crime. Instant alerts are sent to officers’ handheld devices to enable rapid response and interception.

Our priority is getting the people of the Western Cape to work and school safely, and our Provincial Traffic Services play a fundamental role in improving mobility on our roads.

Results of Provincial Traffic Services operations: 22 to 26 March 2023

Provincial Traffic Services implemented a total of 179 integrated roadblocks, vehicle check points and speed control operations across the Western Cape, and 20 128 vehicles were stopped and checked. A total of 5 273 fines were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver to vehicle fitness.

A total of 228 speeding offences were recorded. The highest speeds recorded this week were as follows:

• 175 km/h in a 120 km/h zone
• 139 km/h in a 100 km/h zone
• 114 km/h in an 80 km/h zone
• 104 km/h in a 60 km/h zone

Ten vehicles were impounded and 32 were discontinued for unroadworthiness.

Arrests

A total of 51 arrests were made for the following offences:

• 35 x driving under the influence of alcohol.
• 3 x speeding.
• 1 x reckless and negligent driving.
• 1 x goods overloading.
• 6 x possession of fraudulent documentation.
• 1 x bribery.
• 1 x possession of illegal substances.
• 1 x possession of stolen vehicle.
• 1 x obstructing or hindering an authorised officer in the execution of his/her duty.
• 1 x threatening or suggesting use of violence against a traffic officer.

Fatalities

A total of 12 crashes occurred in the reporting period, and 16 fatalities were recorded:

• 4 x drivers.
• 6 x passengers.
• 6 x pedestrians.

It is up to you to make the difference. #BeTheChange you want to see on our roads.

Media queries

Rebecca Campbell
Spokesperson for Minister Ricardo Mackenzie
076 783 2583
Rebecca.Campbell@westerncape.gov.za