Blue-Light Chaos

Recently, having forgotten my blue-light, I was late for a lecture. Which to me, certainly constituted an emergency and naturally the right to travel with a bit of haste. Surprisingly the traffic department disagreed when I explained to them in a letter that missing my lecture could have adverse affects on my, but more importantly their lives, in the future.

To be honest, jokes aside, I am utterly infuriated when I read in our papers, about the government officials who are supposed to be serving the public. No, Bheki Cele, the “blue-light issue” which the newspapers are continuing to report as a voice of the public, is not a race issue. Nor is it anyone’s right, and especially not leader/role-models, to have cavalcades of black vehicles speeding on OUR national roads, endangering the lives of public citizens.

Arrogance, superiority and utter ignorance… yes… that’s what the “blue-light issue” has taught me about some of our top officials. Why stay at home and be assaulted by your cat’s arrogance when you could happily saunter down to the N3 to have it done by local government officials. Sure, you’re more likely to die in a stand off between a blue-light cavalcade than one between you and your cat, but I assure you it will be a far more effective levelling experience. Travel safely in the fast-lane and just wait for it. In all likelihood you are bound to come across a government official and his cavalcade, who, being superior to you, shouldn’t have a problem gently nudging you off the road while travelling in excess of 150 Km/ph.

NO, it is not ok because you have blue-flashing lights and YES, the public and the newspapers are going to challenge you!

What seriously shocks me is the ignorance and utter stupidity of some of our government officials. The whole issue would have died down had Bheki Cele simply apologized for local government road behaviour and endeavoured to have the VIP units drive more responsibly in the future. Instead, Cele decided to wage a war on the newspapers and the so-called “whistle blower” who videoed government officials driving irresponsibly and at excessive speeds. In place of assuring the newspapers that he would control the situation, Cele decided to show his stupidity and drag his name through the dirt by going after the whistle blower.

The Witness (p.2, 8 May 2007) today, gave more foundation to my theories. MEC Peggy Nkonyeni is denying the fact that her driver was arrested, travelling at 172Km/ph while taking her to a meeting. I just ask myself, how stupid can they get… Denying it ever happened and proceeding to lay blame on other people (as in the whistle blower scenario) is not a solution and will only stir the emotions of the people even more.

This is not a race issue. It is an issue of complete abuse of power. It is quite unfathomable to me, why all papers aren’t focusing on this issue. Whatever your race or cultural background, this behaviour is an insult to us all.

Next time a big, black car with furious blue-lights arrives behind your car on the N3… What are you going to do? Should you stick by your ideology and express your right to travel at the speed limit in the fast lane… Probably not, well at least not if you don’t want to wind up dead or have a gun pointed through a window at you. No, these civil servants, believe it or not, shouldn’t be challenged. Next time this happens, just gingerly pull aside… no scrap that… just swerve as hard as you can to the side. Seriously, the grass or a truck are a better option, at least they won’t try charge you with some bogus legal action.

The sad fact is, we can’t…don’t… just don’t, challenge them. At those speeds and the aggression these guys drive with, it could be your life they’ll take away from you.