Fourteen pedestrians were arrested on 13 August after an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) operation targeting people walking or crossing the R21 and R23 freeways in Kempton Park.
The operation, which ran between 06:00 and 10:00, was carried out by female officers from EMPD’s Specialised Services units as part of the department’s Women’s Month programme, said EMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Kelebogile Thepa. Officers detained the people at Kempton Park Police Station and they are expected to face charges related to unlawful pedestrian access to freeways.
Why the operation was launched
Thepa said the enforcement followed a spate of fatal crashes involving pedestrians on City of Ekurhuleni freeways in the preceding two weeks. According to her, the operation was prompted by growing concerns over pedestrian fatalities on the metro’s freeway network.
“Drivers travelling at high speeds often have little time to react when pedestrians enter the roadway, increasing the likelihood of serious or fatal collisions,”
Thepa warned that crossing or walking along a freeway places both pedestrians and motorists at significant risk and urged the public to use designated pedestrian bridges and approved crossing points instead of attempting to cross freeways on foot.
What happened during the operation
EMPD reported the following facts about the operation:
- 14 pedestrians were arrested on the R21 and R23.
- Those detained were aged between 23 and 45.
- The operation ran from 06:00 to 10:00 on 13 August.
- The operation was conducted by female officers from the Specialised Services units as part of Women’s Month activities.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | R21 and R23 freeways, Kempton Park |
| Number arrested | 14 |
| Age range | 23–45 years |
| Time | 06:00–10:00 (13 August) |
Local context and consequences
Kempton Park drivers and residents are familiar with the dangers posed when pedestrians enter high‑speed roadways. The EMPD’s move underlines a persistent problem on the city’s freeway corridors: where pedestrian movement interfaces with fast traffic, the consequences can be fatal.
Residents in nearby neighbourhoods have for years complained about limited safe crossing points near industrial areas, taxi ranks and informal settlements that sit close to freeway embankments. EMPD’s statement did not list the exact spots where arrests were made, but the R21 and R23 corridors are busy commuter routes linking Kempton Park with OR Tambo International Airport and other parts of Ekurhuleni.
Traffic enforcement is only one part of preventing pedestrian fatalities. Road engineers, municipal planners and community leaders must also look at crossing infrastructure, lighting, and safe pedestrian routes. EMPD’s emphasis on using approved crossing points points to an infrastructure gap that the city needs to address to reduce the temptation for people to take hazardous shortcuts across freeways.
City authorities and transport planners have previously acknowledged that informal pedestrian movement around freight depots, taxi ranks and industrial hubs creates recurring safety hazards. While enforcement can deter risky behaviour in the short term, long‑term solutions include more pedestrian bridges, safer routes to public transport nodes and public awareness campaigns aimed at both pedestrians and drivers.
Thepa reiterated EMPD’s plea for caution and compliance with the National Road Traffic Act and related regulations, noting that police will continue targeted operations where necessary to protect both pedestrians and motorists.
Those arrested were taken to Kempton Park Police Station and will face charges for unlawful pedestrian access to freeways, the EMPD confirmed.
