Gauteng traffic: 1 500 vehicles leaving the province every hour

Festive season traffic took a turn on Saturday 19 December, especially in Gauteng as well as KwaZulu-Natal. According to reports, there were high volumes of holidaymakers who were keen to reach a different province in time for Christmas or the New Year. 

Authorities have, however, issued holidaymakers with stern warnings to continue to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols. 

GAUTENG TRAFFIC VOLUMES 

According to Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane, there were roughly 1 500 vehicles leaving Gauteng each hour in the early parts of Saturday. Zwane said the peak was roughly around 11:00. 

Zwane also said he was happy about holidaymakers making an early start. He said road users travelling while there is sufficient sunlight is always a good thing as it would reduce the number of accidents on the roads. 

KWAZULU-NATAL 

According to SABC News, traffic volumes at tolls in KwaZulu-Natal remained high as holidaymakers travelled in and out of the province. 

Operations Manager at the N3 Toll Concession, Thania Dhoogra told SABC News that they recorded in excess of 1500 vehicles per hour going through Tugela and Mooi River Plaza heading in a southbound direction towards Durban. 

“And approaching 1000 vehicles per hour heading northbound towards Jhb we are expecting this to last well into the late afternoon,” said Dhoogra. 

“Our forecast is that we will have extremely high traffic starting again probably around Tuesday and continuing until late on Thursday evening as people head down toward the coast. Please call our 24 hour n3 helpline on 0800-6343-57 for any assistance route information or emergency help,” added Dhoogra. 

SAFER FESTIVE SEASON CAMPAIGN: FROM GAUTENG TO NORTHERN CAPE 

Police Minister Bheki Cele will on Monday 21 December 2020, take the annual Safer Festive Season Inspection Tour to the Northern Cape. Cele was recently in Gauteng and did a tour of the Free State on Saturday. 

The visit to the Northern Cape forms part of efforts by the South African Police Service, to tighten the grip on crime this festive season.

Minister Cele, the Deputy Minister of Police Mr Cassel Mathale, the Premier of the Northern Cape Dr Zamani Saul, Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in the Northern Cape, Major General Henriette de Waal and the top management of the South African Police Service will assess the effectiveness of Safer Festive Season plans put in place, to ensure that residents and holidaymakers are and feel safe, during the holiday season.

Some of the activations on the day will entail:

• Inspection of parade by the Minister;
• Walk-about at Craven Street Taxi Rank in Kimberley;
• Inspection of a Roadblock on N12 South;
• Walk-about at Diamond Pavilion Mall in Kimberley; and 
• Walkabout at Pick and Pay Shopping Centre in Galeshewe.