Mahlalela, Mpumalanga MEC for Roads and Transport, Moloto Village
18 November 2006
Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Thembisile, Mr VV Nkosi
Executive Mayor of Nkangala District, Mr S Mashilo
Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mr S
Khumalo
Ingwenyama Makhosonke Wesibili
Leadership of SANTACO and SABOA
Managing Director of PUTCO, Mr Pisapia
Representatives of Sasol and Engen
Councillors
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
During the month of October, we held our Transport Month Campaign. This
campaign has been a springboard for acceleration of the implementation of our
Transport Programme of Action. During this month, we were particularly
energised by the overwhelming mandate we received from our communities to
accelerate the transformation of our transport system. In our province, we had
a number of activities from opening of new licensing and registration offices,
handing over of bicycles and transport imbizo, whilst nationally; we saw
non-roadworthy taxis reduced to scrap metal and the historical renaming of
Johannesburg International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport. This is a
clear indication that the light we are seeing at the end of the tunnel is
indeed not an on-coming train, but a sign of great achievements.
Indeed, a seed has been planted for better things to come, and all our
endeavours are pointing to a safe, reliable, seamless and affordable transport
system. The milestones we have achieved and the role weâve played as the
Department of Roads and Transport is there for all to see. The event today is
but one of many, that ensures that our legacy is also experienced not only by
ourselves but also by our communities who are receiving this vehicles
today.
It is therefore a great pleasure to be among the people of Nkangala today,
particularly the community of Thembisile. Uma singuhulumeni sikhuluma
ngokuphepha emgwaqeni kodwa singakezi emphakathini ofana nowenu sisuke
singakenzi lutho. Kuyaâsthokozisa ukuba lapha kwethu namhlanje, ngoba
ngalezimonto esizithulayo namhlanje sizokuthi, âPhansi Ngezingozi Zomgwaqo
Emloto Phansiâ, âPhansi Ngabashayeli Bomkokotelo Phansiâ, Phansi Ngezikorokoro
Phansiâ.
Programme Director, it is our responsibility as government to ensure that
our communities have safe and reliable transport system. If we turn a blind eye
on such an essential matter our economy will grind to a halt. In this regard,
the department has put in place a Road Safety Strategy to ensure that we
achieve the Millennium Development Goal, which is to halve road fatalities by
2014.
The department has invested more than R5 million in this project and this
high level of investment is a clear demonstration of government commitment to
our law enforcement initiatives, both as part of a developmental state
intervention to ensuring safety on our roads, stimulating economic growth, and
restoring public confidence in our transport system. It is also a direct
response to the overwhelming mandate given to our government at the last
General elections where our people amongst others, mandated our department to
provide safe, affordable and accessible public transport infrastructure.
In the context of our Sivuthâ Umlilo, our law enforcement officers will in
using these vehicles, among others carry out mini-road blocks exercises daily
to identify:
* illegal vehicles and drivers
* unroadworthy vehicles
* non-compliance to seatbelt laws
* drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and
* put more stringent punishments for those who contravene the law
Distinguished guests, apart from the above activities and in the context of
our Taxi Recapitalisation Project, we will continue and intensify our law
enforcement initiatives focused particularly on public transport in the
following areas:
* unroadworthy vehicles
* operators deviating from prescribed routes;
* operators operating contrary to the conditions of their permits/operating
licenses
* taxi piracy and
* operators/drivers and members found in possession of stolen and suspicious
stolen vehicles
We are convinced that all these initiatives will propel passenger transport,
in particular taxis, to gain its rightful place as a mass-mover of our people.
Our underlying assumption is to guarantee safety and security for commuters
within the broader context of the public transport system.
We, however, can never be alone in all these endeavours. We are forging
strong partnerships with private sector and civil society to promote safety on
our roads. Iâm pleased to announce that today we are joined by PUTCO, which has
contributed five vehicles towards increasing visibility of traffic law
enforcement and also Sasol who have contributed an amount of R250 000-00
towards placing of billboards. I would like to call upon the representatives of
both PUTCO and Sasol to stand for a round of applause. As government we are
encouraged by your contribution and would like to appeal and encourage other
companies to follow this example. Keep up good work.
As we officially launch this initiative, we also strongly condemn the
practice of the throwing of stones and burning of buses. No amount of
frustration and anger could justify such behaviour and destruction of property.
We are therefore confident that our police will ensure that those responsible
are brought to book and are made to pay for their crimes. We also hope that
this initiative will ignite the spark of confidence among communities largely
towards our law enforcement officers and will translate into increased
law-abiding citizenship.
In conclusion, we all know that our people continue to lose their lives on
this road with a substantial number of pedestrians. We all have a
responsibility of changing this culture and raise the level of consciousness of
our people on road safety. This responsibility should be a shared
responsibility; we cannot do it alone as government, all of us must act
together and advocate the importance tolerance, love, peace, compassion and
mutual respect as we use our roads.
Viva Sivuthâ Umlilo Campaign Viva!
Viva Arrive Alive Viva!
Ngiyabonga.
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
18 November 2006
