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Metro police is considering making its crackdown on traffic violations, Operation Nomakanjani, permanent. Already more than 400 drivers have been arrested.
OPERATION Nomakanjani might just become a permanent tactic for the Joburg metro police department (JMPD).
The operation has had the police clamping down on reckless and dangerous drivers, and strictly enforcing traffic laws. It began in the inner city on 9 March, and has spread outwards.
JMPD's spokesperson, Wayne Minnaar, said the police force planned to consult the public about whether it should adopt this stinging approach as a permanent means of reducing traffic violations.
"We don't want to judge the success of Operation Nomakanjani for ourselves. We will get the community to judge for us," he said. "We will just continue if the community agrees with what we are doing."
Minaar said the JMPD would withstand criticism from certain groups because it was not targeting any specific group of drivers. "We are not targeting taxi drivers," he emphasised.
Operation Nomakanjani, which translates as "No matter what" from Zulu, is scheduled to last for at least two months; the first month is almost over.
Minnaar said the police had arrested more than 400 motorists since the operation was launched three weeks ago. "The K101 in Midrand is one of the hotspots. We have arrested 50 drivers there."
The arrests were mainly for reckless and negligent driving. Motorists in areas like Lenasia and Orange Farm should also expect Operation Nomakanjani to be implemented on their roads, Minnaar said.
"We will go to the south of Johannesburg when we are ready."
Those arrested have had their vehicles impounded; they must pay a fine of R600 to have the vehicles released. In all, 120 officers have been deployed to 40 areas deemed hotspots by the department, where a 24-hour operation is in progress.
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