The visit, which took place on Monday, 23 March 2026, formed part of the ongoing Taking Legislature to the People (TLP) Programme currently underway in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality. The purpose of the oversight visit was to assess the effectiveness of the facility and evaluate its impact on road safety and law enforcement.

During the engagement, committee members raised several concerns, including the need for the facility to operate around the clock.

“It is not acceptable that our traffic officers operate only eight hours. While there is provision for overtime, it is not sustainable. We need to change this situation, and our traffic officers must operate 24 hours,” said Head of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), Gloria Mazibuko, who led the delegation.

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Members noted that the R38 route carries a high volume of heavy motor vehicles, making it critical for the weighbridge to operate continuously to curb overloading and improve compliance with road safety regulations.The committee also recommended that the Badplaas MLCU be upgraded into a fully-fledged static weighbridge to enhance its efficiency. It was further suggested that all weighbridges across the province should operate 24 hours a day to strengthen government efforts to improve road safety.

Concerns were also raised about the shortage of mobile units, which is affecting operations and allowing some vehicles to operate under unsafe conditions. Committee members further urged the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison to address the issue of overloaded minibus taxis, particularly those towing trailers.

Weighbridges play a crucial role in enforcing traffic laws and reducing the risks associated with overloaded heavy vehicles, which contribute to road accidents and damage to infrastructure.The Badplaas MLCU operates as a satellite of the Machadodorp Weighbridge, alongside Farrenfontein, Machadodorp West and Wonderfontein facilities.

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The TLP Programme, running from 23 to 27 March 2026, aims to bring government services closer to communities while strengthening accountability and responsiveness.

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The Tourism Border Post and Truck Awareness Campaign was held by the Border Management Agency (BMA) in conjunction with the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, the police, the defence force and other stakeholders, to raise awareness on road safety during the Easter holidays.

Over a 100 vehicles, including heavy-load trucks were inspected. A total of 25 summons were issued for various traffic violations and one case of illegal immigration was discovered during the operation.

READ | Vehicle fitness and safety of passengers vital this Easter holiday

This campaign is part of the efforts made by BMA and stakeholders to curb the number of accidents taking place on the roads especially, at the border post.

“We are targeting especially truck drivers to conscientize them about the importance of road safety and following road rules during this season,” said Oshoek Border Post Commander, Life Mokoena.

Early this year, the border post was forces to seize operation after a truck crashed into 15 stationery vehicles. It was the second crash in a period of two months.

“We are pleased with the outcome of today’s campaign and the collaborative efforts of all involved in minimizing accidents and incidents, and we applaud the work done to ensure that law is enforced by travellers” said Gert Sibande District Municipality Mayor, Walter Mngomezulu.

Mngomezulu further urged motorists to drive responsibly and to also consider the various tourism destinations in the district.

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Since the beginning of the registration drive on 15 November last year, following a widespread of food poisoning cases in the country, the municipality revealed that it had received 575 applications, to date. However, only four of those applications complied and received their trading permits.

Spokesperson for the municipality, Thapelo Phetla, said that the 571 applicants had outstanding documents that should be submitted before the closing date to complete the registration process.

“Failure to meet the deadline will result in the applications being null and void,” said Phetla.

READ | Extension of spaza shop registration period welcomed

Documents that are required for the registration of the business include the owner’s (ID/Passport) proof of address, health and safety certificates, building plans, tax clearance certificate, to mention, but a few.

They are also required to keep and provide supplier records/identity to prove that goods are sourced from authorised entities.
Phetla warned that failure to meet the deadline would have dire consequences on the spaza shop owners.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, introduced a new Standard Draft By-Law for township economies last year November.

The bylaw includes guidelines on the registration and permitting of businesses, transferability of permit, waste removal and hygiene, restricted and prohibited areas and prohibitions and restrictions such as sleeping overnight at the place of business.
The bylaw further states that failure to comply may result to a written warning on the first transgression and failure to remedy the offense would lead to the cancelation of the business license.

READ | Lawless spaza shops leave locals out of business

“The municipality adopted a draft Township By law. Currently we are in a process of consultations with the public. Once the council approves, it will be implemented accordingly,” concluded Phetla.

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The ravaging winds left the houses with structural damages including cracks and the collapse of roofs to some.
Spokesperson, Thapelo Phetla said the municipality has expressed concern and solidarity with the affected families.

“The municipality together with the assistance of NGOs and other stakeholders have been on the ground since the incident took place, to assess the damage and offer necessary support,” he said.

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According to Phetla, the families have been provided with temporary shelter and emergency supplies including tents, food and blankets.

READ | Roofs blown off by thunderstorms in Nkomazi

Residents are urged to remain vigilant during adverse weather conditions and report any emergencies and service delivery issues to the municipality through the call centre number: 080 0013 4890 or 017 004 0210.

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This is an outcry of residents from Elukwatini and its surrounding areas including Mooiplaas.

Following the recent cabinet meeting, the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni in her statement on the outcomes, deliberated on the issue of addressing spaza shop ownership in the country, including compliance.

Phindile Mathebula is one of the residents from Mooiplaas who says that the municipality has failed her and many other young local people. Mathebula and six other young ladies were selling fast food to make a living and fight unemployment.

However, many in her group were forced to close business after a local foreign shop owner who sells, groceries and hardware materials in one shop decided to sell fast food at half the price they charge.

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Mathebula and other community members called a meeting on 30 September with the local councillors and other stakeholders including SANCO, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labor.

“The shop owner did not produce a municipal permit during the meeting and he was told to shut down the fast food service because it was also a health hazard beside them taking away bread from our mouths,” she said.

However, the shop owner did not keep to his promise and continued selling the food. “I went and put a chain on the gate of the shop. They called the police on me and lodged a protection order against me,” added Mathebula.

SANCO Chairperson, Wyne Mashele attributed challenges related to non compliance to the municipality’s lack of action. Mashele said the municipality only started conducting inspections a year ago. This was when the organisation and community members visited local spaza shops and supermarkets including the ones in the CBD and found expired goods.

“After that, they did not go again and these inspections need to be done regularly. We have also found that they are in no possession of municipal permits. It is a problem because they do not comply with any law. Now they are selling everything and locals are left stranded,” said Mashele.

Nonetheless, spokesperson for the municipality, Thapelo Phetlo insisted that the municipality was conducting quarterly inspections to check compliance.

“The municipality has a database for spaza shops that are operating within the municipality, however the process is not exhaustive due to the fact that on a daily basis there is a new shop,” said Phetla.

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MPULUZI – It took the wrath of MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, to find common ground between the community and government.

This was to realise that the safety of the community is both their responsibility.

READ | Joint funeral for Mpuluzi crash victims

Speaking during the official funeral service of the nine children killed in a horrible taxi accident a week ago, Shongwe chastised them for not taking the responsibility. To ensure that public transport ferrying their children back and forth is safe. He also added that it also includes crimes committed by their children, whom they do not expose or flush out to law enforcers to quell it.

To dampen tempers, he announced he had issued an order that from 14:00 today, traffic officials within the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality will launch an operation to rid the streets of unroadworthy vehicles on the roads.

READ MORE | Mpuluzi Car Crash | Another body of learner discovered

“As a community, take an initiative to confront matters affecting your lives. Why did it take the death of these children for us to reach a consensus? There must be an open line of communication and no finger-pointing. Let’s work together to rid ourselves of all the wrongs on our roads and communities.

“All the scrappy vehicles will be hauled out of the roads and everyone will police the situation. Both government and community front. The chief has allocated us space to store all the scraps,” he concluded.

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