Pretoria - Policing authorities as well as government, civil and business organisations have warned the public to be safe ahead of the first Easter holidays since the lifting of the National State of Disaster.
SAPS spokesperson Captain Augustinah Selepe similarly urged residents not to forget about maximising home and personal safety.
Selepe said criminals were already lurking and targeting shopping malls posing as shop assistants.
She said people needed to watch out for pick-pocketing in busy and congested areas.
“Besides drinking and driving, when it comes to party goers, there is also a problem of spiking drinks. Many people fall victim to this, and we urge them to be very careful in the clubs and outside when they head home. We encourage people not to drink and drive,” she added.
The Department of Water and Sanitation cautioned religious movements to steer clear of water bodies when performing activities such as baptism.
Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the recent downpours in parts of the country would make it even more dangerous to conduct such religious practices as water levels in certain rivers had increased sharply.
“While we respect peoples’ religious beliefs, it is equally our responsibility as government to alert everyone about the danger associated with baptism in raging rivers, particularly during this period.
“Being religious should not lead to deaths of innocent people. The safety of everyone is our priority and therefore, we encourage everyone to find alternative ways of baptism to ensure safety”, said Ratau.
He added that the current rainfall in many parts of the country was expected to continue, and water levels in rivers and dams would rise.
Chief executive of MasterDrive Eugene Herbert said this year many motorists may be vulnerable to fatigue because the Easter weekend did not fall during the school holiday. This meant families may have to restrict their travels to the four-day weekend only.
“There are a few things that drivers can do to prevent driving while tired. The first, and most ideal, step is to be selective about your travels when you have a time limit.
“Avoid travelling too far within a short space of time and placing unnecessary pressure on yourself. Rather stay close to home so that you drive refreshed and fully alert.”
He also advised motorists to select the best route, schedule regular breaks, and be aware of any driving conditions that could increase fatigue, such as long stretches with roadworks.
His tips included packing nutritious snacks as consistent source of energy and avoiding food that could result in energy slumps. In addition, have a good night’s rest before travelling and share driving duties.
The AA also called on travellers to do their best to obey the rule of law and ensure their safety as well as that of other road users.
Pretoria News