Road safety sweep sees vehicles stopped and inspected to protect motorists and ensure compliance. Picture Credit: X
By Aisha Zardad
Tshwane – As festive season traffic peaked in late December 2025, law-enforcement agencies in Tshwane stepped up road safety and compliance operations to protect motorists on busy routes, resulting in multiple vehicles being stopped and thoroughly inspected for legal and safety compliance.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) led the operation in Mamelodi, one of her busiest regions, as part of a series of coordinated road-safety actions aimed at reducing accidents and lawlessness during the peak travel period. The festive deployment forms part of the annual Safer Festive Season campaign, which brings together traffic officers, municipal leadership, and transport authorities to enforce regulations and ensure safer journeys for commuters.
Acting Chief of Police Deputy Commissioner Nomsa Nhlapho oversaw the initiative, which focused on compliance with vehicle roadworthiness, valid licensing, driver documentation, and other statutory requirements. Officials verified driving licences, licence discs, and mechanical fitness to ensure vehicles on the road meet minimum legal standards.
City of Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya joined the operation to provide oversight and emphasise government commitment to road safety. “The presence of law enforcement and municipal leadership reflects our zero-tolerance stance on non-compliance,” Dr Moya said, highlighting the importance of proactive checks during high-traffic periods. She noted that many crashes are linked to vehicle defects or unlicensed operations that go unchecked during quieter months.
The stop-and-search activities were supported by a wider set of enforcement measures across Gauteng’s major urban centres. The Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI), which works jointly with provincial and municipal police, has reported significant outcomes over the same period — including the removal and discontinuation of unsafe vehicles and the issuance of hundreds of infringement notices across Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni. In a recent festive season sweep, 45 vehicles were discontinued, 30 impounded, and 27 arrests made for offences such as drunk driving and bribery. In the public transport sector, 187 minibuses were found without valid licence discs and 193 drivers were operating without valid licences, leading to further discontinuations and penalties.
Traffic experts say these operations are vital because many road users underestimate the risks associated with unroadworthy vehicles or operating without proper documents. Continuously enforcing compliance helps to reduce fatal and serious crashes, where faulty brakes, worn tyres, and unlicensed drivers are often contributing factors.
Residents and commuters have largely supported the intensified oversight, noting that visible enforcement can act as a deterrent against risky behaviours such as drunk driving, speeding, and using unsafe vehicles. Officials reiterated that these road safety actions will continue throughout the peak holiday months, combining random spot checks, roadblocks, and compliance inspections to protect communities and sustain safer travelling conditions.
Transport department and municipalities must note that traffic law enforcement officers are paid monthly to enforce the law not only during festive,Easter or long weekend. Operations like this must be on daily basis because that’s what they are employed for. Capacity must not be available only available when it suits certain events, This also make public education awareness to motorists to be in compliance and the public to adhere to by laws . We need them to be visible, that will also assist in reducing hijacking,business robberies because criminals will have difficulty to get away with their crimes due to visible policing on our roads as they can block or prevent further trips of criminals to their destinations, also issue of trafficking of persons can also be prevented ,it will be rare cases.
These road checks should be done more often
Good idea but in vain an ineffective. No effective results. Cars still get damaged. 😏😕
More than 90% of taxis in Gauteng don’t qualify to be on the roads, no licences or discs, no windows only plastics, cracked widescreen, no break lights even rear light covers not there or lights for that matter! Winter is coming, they will drive with no lights! They knock U! They leave u and their passengers! Write details of the car, not in the system. After 2 to 3 hours they will come, in secret, to take their TAXI!!!!! They are LAW!!!! They knocked me and no information from them!!! Let’s SUE the Gauteng department of transport and Kedibone and Panyaza for such happenings!!!!