Safety and Liaison Mr Bheki Cele on divine interventions to reduce deaths on
roads, at Siyabakhumbula in Port Shepstone
14 October 2007
Since 2005, the month of October is declared as the National Transport
Month. On the 2nd of October, we launched our provincial plan for the month and
since then we have been moving up and down ensuring that our people are
sensitised to road safety issues among other things. I am therefore delighted
to see so many of us gathered here today together with religious leaders and
their congregations from different religious faiths, who have come together to
pray with officials from the Department of Transport and the Hibicus Coast
Municipality, for divine intervention in our efforts to reduce deaths on our
roads.
We all know that few months ago, we came to this area three times for
memorial services for people who died on our roads. I am talking about 29
people who died in a space of just three weeks. I know that this may be
statistics to others but statistics don't die, people die on the roads.
When we met with the Mayor of Hibiscus Coast, Nolwazi Shusha during those
memorial services, we thought that it would be necessary to call this service
to remember those who passed away, but particularly, to pray together for God's
intervention.
There is greater spiritual power when believers pray together with unity of
purpose. In Matthew 18 of the Bible, Jesus taught not only the power of prayer,
but also the power of agreement in prayer.
He said that when multiple believers agree in prayer, His Father would give
them anything for which they ask. Because in united prayer, said Jesus, even in
small groups of two or three, He Himself would be uniquely manifest.
We at the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Transport are firmly of the
belief that religious communities must play a more active role in "spreading
the gospel of road safety". It is on that score that we have interfaith
programme where we encourage the entire religious community of KwaZulu-Natal to
participate actively in our struggle against road crashes.
This is a clear indication that government is working tirelessly to ensure
that South Africa becomes a better place for all. However, in order to
adequately reduce the carnage, a concerted approach by all sectors of our
society is urgently required.
As we head towards the forthcoming December holidays, I would like to urge
all religious communities to continue to play a more active role in spreading
the gospel of safety by ensuring that our safety messages go right down to
grassroots level.
Jesus told his disciples that those who hear His words, and fail to do them,
are like a house without a foundation that is destroyed when the storms come.
There are thousands of road users, who have heard our road safety messages over
and over again, yet they fail to practise what they hear.
As part our Transport Month, yesterday we launched our provincial structure
for public transport passengers, the KwaZulu-Natal Public Transport Passenger
Association (KZN-PTPA). We have already established local associations all over
the province.
Here, we are saying today passengers speak out. We are saying passengers
participate in decisions relating to your transportation. We are saying now
passengers you have the power in your hands through these structures. You can
now speak with one voice in ensuring that the public transport system in
KwaZulu-Natal does not take you for granted.
Gone are the days when road safety was perceived as only government's
responsibility. The time has come for that perception to be urgently corrected
as safety should be close to all our hearts. After all, it concerns the
protection of our most precious gift, our very life.
In closing, I would like to recognise religious denominations and
organisations for making a meaningful impact in shaping societal behaviour and
attitudes. Indeed, we appreciate your efforts.
Finally, continue to work and pray with unity of purpose and without ceasing
for a safer South Africa, where the number of road accidents and incidents of
crime will be significantly reduced.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
14 October 2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kzncomsafety.gov.za/)
