KZN Transport MEC part of female-led roadblock in Jozini

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma, who is leading the roadblock at Jozini, says when the community works together with law enforcement officers, this helps to reduce crime in South Africa.

Counterfeit alcohol has been confiscated this morning during a female-led roadblock, as part of efforts in the fight against cross border crime in the area.

According to the provincial Transport Department, last year alone at least 30 vehicles a month were stolen and taken illegally from South Africa to Mozambique.

The area has been plagued with cross border crime that have spiraled into hijackings, robberies and murders.

Duma says their goal is to dismantle cross border crime in the province.

“We are surrounded by the imbokodo, the joint operation. It’s a very special day, as yesterday was the 9th [Women’s Day]. Earlier this morning we found this illegal alcohol and we are glad there’s police operations on the ground. This joint operation is doing a lot of progress, in fact in the last seven months, you’d find that it has gone down because of the role that’s played by joint operations. The issue of the crime will not only be addressed by law enforcement, people on the ground must see that this is a suspicious vehicle why is it here and the issue of vehicles why do you buy a stolen vehicle in the first place.”

A Female-led Roadblock as part of fighting cross-border crime – KZN, Mozambique and Swaziland

*WATCH*: MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Sibonisa Duma has arrived to witness a Female-led Crossborder Crime and he has revealed:

1/3. pic.twitter.com/jcaPXit1h6

— KZN Transport (@KZNTransport) August 10, 2024

Meanwhile, Umkhanyakude District Municipality Mayor Siphile Mdaka says the jersey barrier project, high walls between the South African and Mozambican border, is yielding results.

Mdaka spoke to SABC News at the all-female-led roadblock in Jozini.

Mdaka is calling for the project to be fast tracked…

“We have seen that being reduced drastically since the installation of the jersey barriers which is an ongoing project, hence we have engaged the MEC yesterday to say fast track phase two because in areas where this wall has been erected, you can see now there are no vehicles going in that area. Jersey barriers become one of the strategic instruments to stop vehicles from crossing to Mozambique.”

Mdaka adds that the dedicated police task team working to clamp down on cross border crime, appointed last year, is also making a difference.

He is appealing to the local community to work with them, “There have been known kingpins in this region in particular who have been responsible for this crime. Some have been arrested, sentenced. Unfortunately, some caught in the crossfire with the police, they have lost their lives, it is a matter with them and God. But what is important is we have seen good results in terms of the deployment of the task team. If you want to address crime, you need everybody to play their role. We also need communities ourselves.”