Law enforcement remains a great concern in Paarl and surrounds and it will seem if there is absolute no law enforcement, despite the municipality’s claims of how well their municipal court is doing.
Recently, much fanfare was made about the mayor and a large entourage of law enforcement officers taking to the streets of central Paarl to tackle street vendors selling their goods on sidewalks. While I understand the need for orderly public spaces, I cannot help but question our municipality’s priorities when a far more dangerous situation continues unaddressed.
The state of traffic law enforcement in the Drakenstein Valley has deteriorated to alarming levels. Daily, residents witness blatant disregard of traffic regulations with virtually no consequences. Motorists speed through residential areas, skip red traffic lights and ignore stop streets with impunity.
This lawlessness on our roads has created an increasingly dangerous environment for pedestrians and law-abiding drivers alike.
Of particular concern is the apparent free pass given to minibus taxi operators. These vehicles routinely operate in ways that endanger public safety, speeding through intersections, overloading passengers, driving unroadworthy vehicles, and flagrantly violating traffic laws. Despite these daily infractions occurring in plain sight, law enforcement seems conspicuously absent from addressing this problem.
The disparity in enforcement priorities raises serious questions about our local government’s commitment to public safety.
While resources are directed toward regulating sidewalk vendors, lives are being put at risk on our roads every day.
When will our local authorities rebalance their law enforcement priorities and allocate appropriate resources to road safety.
Regular patrols, speed checks, and proper enforcement of traffic regulations would go a long way toward creating safer streets for all.
Our community deserves proper and adequate law enforcement that addresses genuine public safety concerns, not selective application that overlooks the most dangerous violations.
Or are there individuals within the municipality, as previously rumored, who are in the pockets of the taxi industry?
(Dyllon from Paarl)
