Highway Patrols were Never Withdrawn says Minister Ramatlakane

Western Cape Minister for Community Safety, Leonard Ramatlakane, said the police patrols on the N1, N2, and R300 provincial roads, are intact and are continuing. And highway patrols continue at hotspots where some of the stone-throwing incidents have taken place.

Minister Ramatlakane said after receiving a report from Provincial Police Commissioner Mzwandile Petros said: "I am satisfied that no instructions were issued to stop the highway patrols, this has been confirmed by the ten vehicles which were purchased and deployed to patrol the freeways since the beginning of this year. This has also been confirmed by Provincial Commissioner Petros' report."

Following the attack which left a Khayelitsha woman critically ill in hospital after being hit by a stone while driving on the road, Minister Ramatlakane expressed his sympathy and has sent her get well messages.

Provincial Commissioner Petros has in the meantime rejected claims by Inspector Mase who said that patrols on the highway have been withdrawn.

"There is no substance to his claims."

Minister Ramatlakane said:" The plan to patrol the N1, N2, M5, R300 roads and parts of Lansdowne road, will remain intact. This plan has been operational and has since been beefed up with the deployment of ten new vehicles that continue to patrol on either side of the roads."

Minister Ramatlakane adds that: "The public must understand that patrol vehicle's wheels roll all the time and the freeways are so vast that cars cannot be at same spot all the time, hotspots in particular, will be closely monitored.

Minister Ramatlakane has once again called on motorists to be vigilant when using the said roads.

"We also call on the general public to report those who commit these crimes on the highway by calling the police on the toll free number --10-1-1-1."

Minister Ramatlakane has visited Shereen Mase at the Christiaan Barnard Hospital and wished her a speedy recovery.