Media Practitioners representing various media houses in the country gathered at the Finance House in Maseru on Wednesday October 06, 2020 for an educational media conference on the operations of the Mobile Traffic Court.
The joint media conference was hosted by the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Magistracy, Lesotho Mounted Police Service as well as Road Fund as stakeholders in the operation of the Mobile Traffic Court.
Speaking at the occasion, the Traffic Commissioner Mrs. ‘Mathabo Tšosane explained that Mobile Traffic Court is solely aimed at enforcing Road Traffic Laws of the country, saying that this is to ensure that all vehicles are roadworthy and fit for purpose when using the roads.
She indicated that not only should vehicles be roadworthy, but all road users should have relevant documents that enable them to use the roads, all these in an effort to enhance road safety and ensure that Basotho remain safe at all times.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Finance’s Fleet Manager Mr. Folojeng Folojeng of encouraged owners of vehicles leased to government to comply with the requirements on the law by acquiring relevant permits, to avoid clashes with the Mobile Traffic Court. He said as the Ministry, they would device strategies to ensure that the leasing of vehicles is simplified, but in the meantime all should acquire the necessary permits.
Meanwhile, the Magistrate Court Information officer Ms. Nthabiseng Mohale shared statistics related to the operation of the court on pilot phase. She revealed that countrywide a total of 1,331 cases appeared before the Magistrate at the Mobile Court, 2,374 Spot Fines were issued while 259 overdue Spot Fines were found and duly paid.
She said top offences during the campaign included, but were not limited to: Failure to produce driver’s license, Permits offences, Failure to display clearance certificates, Failure to display number plates, Number Plates not issues by Registering Authority as well as Unregistered vehicles.
The media then sought clarity on most misconceptions seemingly rampant about the operations of the Mobile Traffic Court via social media, to which they learnt from the team that all offences fined are based on the Laws, anything outside the law remains a misconception.
The Mobile Court was handed over from Road Fund to the Ministry of Justice and Law on June 30, 2020 and immediately commenced the pilot campaign on July 01, 2020. It is now on the second extended pilot campaign period which started on Monday September 21, 2020 and is scheduled to cover all districts of the country.
