JOHANNESBURG — A Parliamentary review of policy for the use of blue lights on State vehicles is needed following an incident involving Zimbabwe police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, South Africa’s opposition Congress of the People (Cope) has said.
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“What makes politicians of the African National Congress so special that they need blue lights and sirens to get to their destinations, polluting our roads in the process?” Cope spokesman Johann Abrie asked in a statement.
He was responding to reports on Saturday of two separate incidents involving blue light vehicles.
The Saturday Star reported that Johannesburg metro police were being investigated for allegedly using an unauthorised blue light cavalcade to escort Chihuri to the Beitbridge border in Limpopo.
The officers, who have not been charged, were being probed for travelling outside their jurisdiction in privately-owned unmarked cars with blue lights and sirens blazing.
In the second case, The Star reported on its website that Limpopo agriculture MEC Rosina Semenya’s Mercedes-Benz allegedly drove through a red traffic light in Polokwane on Wednesday night.
Semenya’s car, which displayed flashing blue lights without a siren according to an eye witness, allegedly crashed into another car.
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The driver of the other car was reportedly injured and taken to hospital. Police said a case of reckless or negligent driving was opened, but would not confirm or deny that the MEC was in the vehicle, the report said.
Makgotho said that she was not in the car at the time of the crash.
Abrie said Cope also wanted premiers of all provinces to order MECs, mayors and speakers to stop using blue lights and sirens unnecessarily.
