NO MORE blue lights brigades and a convoy of VIP protection for mayors, councillors and municipal officials in KwaZulu-Natal.
Traffic and municipal police may not provide local government officials with such a service - unless it is one car driven by a police officer.
That is the instruction from the MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs, Nomusa Dube.
The blue lights usage has been a thorny issue across the country as they were believed to have been misused and in some instances abused, resulting in the loss of lives.
While it is usually national ministers who have to officially use blue lights, mayors and some councillors have largely been criticised for travelling around in convoys, in the company of blue lights vehicles, even when attending unofficial engagements such as funerals.
In April, former SABC radio and TV journalist Tim Ncube was killed when VIP protection officer Sergeant Thembinkosi Mpanza, driving a blue-light vehicle as part of Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini's convoy, crashed into Ncube's car. Both men died on the scene.
MEC spokesman Lennox Mabaso said that not a single mayor had objected to the circular.
"What has been done was in terms of the law . it was [a] directive, not a matter of negotiation and consultation. We were just implementing what is enshrined in the law."
Blue lights barred for mayors
NO MORE blue lights brigades and a convoy of VIP protection for mayors, councillors and municipal officials in KwaZulu-Natal.
Traffic and municipal police may not provide local government officials with such a service - unless it is one car driven by a police officer.
That is the instruction from the MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs, Nomusa Dube.
The blue lights usage has been a thorny issue across the country as they were believed to have been misused and in some instances abused, resulting in the loss of lives.
While it is usually national ministers who have to officially use blue lights, mayors and some councillors have largely been criticised for travelling around in convoys, in the company of blue lights vehicles, even when attending unofficial engagements such as funerals.
In April, former SABC radio and TV journalist Tim Ncube was killed when VIP protection officer Sergeant Thembinkosi Mpanza, driving a blue-light vehicle as part of Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini's convoy, crashed into Ncube's car. Both men died on the scene.
MEC spokesman Lennox Mabaso said that not a single mayor had objected to the circular.
"What has been done was in terms of the law . it was [a] directive, not a matter of negotiation and consultation. We were just implementing what is enshrined in the law."
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