After over a decade of losing millions in revenue, the City of Tshwane is set to turn the tide with the reopening of two municipal weighbridges in Akasia and Centurion.
Mayoral Committee member for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, hailed the development as a significant step forward for the city, enhancing road safety, law enforcement, and overall service delivery.
“The reopening of these weighbridges signals the return of the rule of law to our roads,” he said.
For too long, he said, the absence of the facilities has allowed overloaded vehicles to operate with impunity, “putting ordinary motorists at risk, damaging the city’s road network and costing the City millions in repairs and lost revenue”.
He said the weighbridges will enable the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) to effectively enforce axle-load and weight compliance laws, ensuring that freight operators cannot bypass the law.
“This ensures that freight operators cannot bypass the law and that our roads are no longer abused for profit at the public’s expense,” Coetzee said.
He said the TMPD will now be able to stop, weigh, fine, and impound overloaded vehicles as needed, bolstering their capabilities in road policing, traffic management, and protection of critical infrastructure.
He praised the efforts of TMPD officers, engineers, technicians, and city officials who worked to make the reopening a reality.
Neo Mocumi, chairperson of the Section 79 community safety committee, welcomed the launch of the Akasia weighbridge, describing it as a significant milestone in boosting road safety and law enforcement.
“The weighbridge will play a vital role in ensuring compliance with legal load limits by freight and heavy-duty vehicles,” she said.
Mocumi emphasised the need for robust oversight, accountability, and investment in safety infrastructure, praising the city’s commitment to proactive road safety interventions and law enforcement.
“As the community safety section 79 oversight committee, we fully support initiatives that strengthen the City’s ability to ensure the safety of all residents and preserve critical infrastructure,” she said.
Coetzee said the achievement showcases good governance under the multiparty coalition government in Tshwane.
“We want to thank all the TMPD officers, engineers, technicians and City officials who worked to make this reopening a reality. Your efforts reflect our collective commitment to a safer, stronger and more lawful Tshwane,” he said.
