Programme Director Mr Xolani Gwala
Minister of Basic Education, Honourable Angie Motshekga
Deputy Minister of Transport, Honourable Sindisiwe Chikunga
MEC Mabilo;
MEC Khompela
Members of the Provincial Executive Councils
Representatives of local government
Officials from the three spheres of government
Chief Executives and other representatives of State Owned Companies and agencies
Our special and honored guest Tumelo
All our Industry partners and stakeholders
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
Programme Director,
It is my pleasure to address you on this occasion to mark the handover of the Torch of Peace to my colleague, the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga. The Department of Transport received the Torch from the Ministry of Women, Children and People living with Disabilities in November 2011.
The handing over of the Torch from one department to another confirms that the task to protect the vulnerable in our society is a responsibility that cuts across all departments.
All of us have a shared responsibility to ensure an environment in which all citizens can enjoy their right to safety and security, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Over the past few years, the Torch of Peace has become a symbol of South Africa’s national campaign to combat violence against women and children, and improve safety at schools and on the road. The Torch of Peace has evolved to represent a rallying point for the creation of a more caring and humane, and safer South Africa.
In pursuit of this collective task, the Department of Transport (DoT) reiterates its commitment to participate actively in the partnership with the Department of Basic Education and other government departments. Road safety is one of the areas of co-operation amongst departments.
Road fatalities have profound social and economic consequences. They result in the loss of loved ones, in some cases, leaving children orphaned or disabled. Economically, the cost of road fatalities amounts to an estimated R306 billion per annum.
Mounting campaigns to reduce road fatalities will therefore contribute positively to the social and economic development of South Africa. It will save a significant amount of resources that can be reprioritised for other socio-economic programmes.
While the DoT will continue to play a leading role in the road safety campaign, in conjunction with other departments there is no doubt that law enforcement alone cannot address the problem. It is not possible for law enforcement officers to be deployed on each and every street or corner.
The support and co-operation of all South Africans is therefore crucial if we are to achieve our goal to reduce road fatalities by half by 2020. Heightened awareness through active collaboration within and outside government will help encourage voluntary compliance with the law.
The partnership between the departments of Basic Education and Transport to create awareness, targeting school children, who can also make a positive contribution to the road safety campaign. By targeting children, we will nurture generations of South Africans who can act as road safety ambassadors.
Children should be empowered to take responsibility for their own safety when walking or playing or when they are passengers. Statistics show that many children die on the road because they do not buckle up.
Last year, the Deputy Minister and I, attended a road safety debating competition featuring different provinces. During the debate, school children challenged some of the existing conventions around our approach road safety. Children are therefore not only recipients of information, but they can also contribute ideas, informed by their daily experiences.
Assisting young people to obtain valid learners and drivers licences is one area of collaboration between departments. Of Basic Education and Transport In addition to helping young people to be employable, as many jobs require one to have a driving licence, this programme will reduce the number of people driving without valid licences. It will also reduce corruption that takes place when job-seekers under the pressure end up paying bribes to obtain driving licences.
The progress we are making is also made possible by the support from our private sector partners. I encourage our private sector partners to continue supporting the road safety campaign and other government endeavours aimed at creating a better life for all South Africans.
Honourable Minister,
It is my pleasure to hand over the Torch of Peace to the Department of Basic Education.
Thank you
