Midvaal Local Municipality launched Transport Month on 1 October with a display of some of its Traffic and Fire & Rescue vehicles. The showcase highlighted the municipality’s ongoing investment in safety services and its commitment to protecting residents both on the road and within their communities.
Midvaal Fire & Rescue operates 12 vehicles across two fully equipped fire stations, ensuring coverage of the entire municipality and surrounding areas. The service is further enhanced by the Fire Prevention Association, supported with over 70 fire-fighting trailers provided by Midvaal to assist with firebreaks and remote fires.
In the last financial year, the department responded to 1,435 emergency calls, consistently dispatching vehicles within one minute during the day and two minutes at night. Their dedication was recently recognised when the team brought home 24 medals from the DragerUp Combat and Rescue Challenge.
Midvaal Traffic Services is also intensifying enforcement to ensure safer roads. Its fleet of 28 patrol vehicles will be boosted with six new vehicles to be deployed during Transport Month. This investment will strengthen visibility, enforcement, and support for road safety initiatives across the municipality.
During the past year, 7,068 drivers were prosecuted for failing to stop at stop signs, with 1,666 charged since July alone. In August and September, 190 vehicle licence renewals were blocked due to unpaid fines. Traffic officers are equipped with body cameras, and patrol vehicles have dash cameras, ensuring accountability in enforcement.
“Our officers are here to protect every road user. We encourage residents to obey the rules of the road, pay their fines, and play their part in creating safer roads. Road safety should not only be a focus during Transport Month, but a priority throughout the year,” said Cllr Chantal Gomes, MMC for Public Safety and Roads.
