“The roadblock cooler box belonged to us,” EC Traffic Dept

A cooler box hanging from the hand of a cop during a roadblock in Eastern Cape heated the comments section as several accused the officers of theft.

However, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, brushed off the claims and put the record straight.

“A LATE ENTRY, but a strong contender for the EC DoT Arrive Alive Campaigns COOLEST Pic of the season. This pic set tongues wagging. Abahlali (people) were like… ‘Niyithathela ntoni I cooler box kengoku?’ (What was the purpose for taking the cooler box).”

“Ibiyeyethu bahlali ningaxhalabi (the cooler box was ours, don’t be agitated,” the Eastern Cape Department of Transport said wittily.

On a fairly serious note, the bottleneck where the cooler box appeared provided positive outcomes.

The special focus was on Speed Chain Operations held at several “SECRET LOCATIONS” across a number of communities in the Amathole District.

Here’s a quick roundup of the operation’s success by numbers:

609 vehicles stopped and inspected

Number of fines issued: 159 (infractions include overloading, driving without a license, operating an unauthorized vehicle, and speeding, among others).
Monetary value: R 38 750
Six illegal aliens were arrested.

The Eastern Cape Department of Transport conducts a successful roadblock at Amathole District’s hidden places. Facebook photo by Eastern Cape Department of Transport

WARNING FROM THE EASTERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT MEC MEC, Xolile Nqatha, cautioned motorists that these kind of operations will become the norm as the department begins on an aggressive campaign to minimize crashes on the province’s roads beyond the holiday season. The Department will boost its operations as we prepare for the departure of the many who spent the Holiday Season in the province in the coming days.