Programme Director,
Deputy Minister of Transport, Honourable Sindisiwe Chikunga,
MEC for Road and Transport in Limpopo, Honourable Pitsi Moloto,
Members of the Executive Council,
Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Mayor of the Polokwane Municipality,
Councillors,
Representatives of the three spheres of government,
Chief Executive Officers of State Owned Companies and agencies,
Representatives of various road transport associations,
Industry stakeholders and partners,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
Allow me to add a word of appreciation and gratitude to the government and people of the Limpopo Province for hosting this event here in Mankweng, Polokwane Municipality. We meet, once again, to discuss the matter that is high on the agenda of the Department of Transport, provincial and local departments, state agencies and the public at large.
Road safety is a responsibility of all South Africans, the success of the road safety campaigns will undoubtedly depend on the role played by all stakeholders. Government alone cannot win this war, no matter how much resources are invested into the road safety campaign. The loss of over 10 00 people per month comes at a huge social and economic cost to the country.
This means that about 40 people die every day. These are parents, children, bread winners and other family members. Road fatalities cost the country just above R3 billion each year, diverting scarce resources from other social and economic needs of the country.
Although the road safety campaigns run throughout the year, the Easter holidays period, is one of the peak periods, with over 100 people dying on the road. In 2012, about 114 fatal crashes leading to the death of 110 people dying in a period of few days.
While the 2012 figures were down from the previous year, there is no doubt that road fatalities continue to be one of the biggest causes of death in the country. Pedestrians have been the main victims of road fatalities accounting for about 53% during the 2012 Easter period.
Drivers and passengers accounted to 27% and 20%, respectively. Almost all the cases point to a violation of one traffic rule or another, including pedestrians crossing the roads at night while under the influence of alcohol.
The Department of Transport will to provide leadership to ensure that we reduce road fatalities by 50% at the end of the United Nations Decade of Road Safety in 2020. Amongst others, the Department, working with all stakeholders, will continue with the awareness and public education programme to mobilise society towards this common goal. Public awareness and education are at the heart of our strategy, while we continue to reinforce law enforcement capabilities throughout the year.
During the next financial year, starting in April 2013, the department and its agencies will attend to some of the priority issues outlined in our statement issued early in January to mark the end of the festive season road safety campaign.
The following measures were mentioned in the statement:
- Implement the point demerit system to deal will serial offenders
- Do away with the current alcohol limit
- Support the ban on alcohol advertising
- Continue with investment in the rail infrastructure to improve public transport;
- Accelerate the implementation of S’hamba Sonke programme to ensure that the roads are always in good conditions
- Step up the investigations of fraudulent licensing centres, and impound road unworthiness vehicles
- Revision of the legislation dealing with periodic testing of motor vehicles
- In rural areas, introduce measures to reduce fatalities caused by stray animals
- Prioritise schools as the priority of our public awareness and education
- Encourage and support learners to obtain learners’ and driving licences while still at school.
This Easter holiday, the law enforcement agencies will continue to examine driver and vehicle safety, impounding un-roadworthy vehicles. Road safety promoters in some of the major roads will encourage passengers to take responsibility for their own safety. It is in the interest of passengers to ensure that their drivers always obey the laws of the country.
In particular, passengers, including children, should be reminded to wear seat-belts whenever they start a journey. Drivers undertaking long distances will be expected to stop at the Rest Stops so that they are sufficiently rested before they can proceed with their journeys.
Once again, I call upon all South Africans to work with the department to make our roads safe. I wish to conclude by thanking all stakeholders and the general public for your support.
Working together we can do more!
