J Radebe: South African Commuters Organisation

14 April 2007

President of SACO, S Sangweni
Santaco President, J Mthembu
South Africa Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) CEO, Lucky Montana
Representatives of the taxi industry
Government officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

The safety and rights of commuters remains one of the Department of
Transport's main priorities. Government's objective to renew public transport
fleets such as trains, buses, and taxis is to make sure that our commuter
rights; comfort, safety and dignity are respected in all spheres of transport
services.

My department launched the 'Road to Safety' Strategy in November 2001 aimed
at improving road traffic services. One of the outcomes of the strategy was the
identification of the need to formulate a Passenger Transport Charter. In
November 2003, the department started work on the development of a Public
Transport Charter. There was wide consultation in all nine provinces with
various stakeholders that included public transport operators, passenger
forums, SA Bus Operators' Association (SABOA), South African National Taxi
Association Council (Santaco) and Metrorail. As the work of the Public
Transport Charter progressed, it became clear that the Charter should not just
cover passenger rights and responsibilities, but also the rights and
responsibilities of government, operators and drivers.

Ladies and gentlemen, I must stress that the rights of commuters and users
of public transport, especially women with children, pedestrians and cyclists
should be promoted in an enforceable charter and that such users should have
recourse to insurance and passenger liability claims in the event of
accidents.

I must say taxi operators and bus operators must respect the rights of the
passengers they transport from one place to another and commuters should be
treated as contributors to social and economic development. I therefore urge
passengers, drivers and transport operators to treat each other with respect
and dignity to achieve the goals of sustainable, affordable and reliable
transport services.

Public transport passengers have the right to:

* freedom to choose the public transport mode or vehicle from those
available that they would like to use, where this choice affects their
safety
* safe public transport services and roadworthy vehicles
* drivers with valid licence and professional driving permits
* reliable services that transport them according to schedule or
expectation
* travel on vehicles that are not overloaded or overcrowded
* professional and courteous treatment from the drivers and staff of all public
transport operators
* travel on a public transport service without experiencing any form of
harassment or discrimination
* transport services that provide value for money.

Distinguished guests, the number of fatalities on our roads requires that
transport operators at all levels should maximise efforts to improve safety.
Good road behaviour that includes stopping at traffic signs, safe speed, safer
following distance and not driving under the influence of alcohol. Passengers
have the responsibility to make sure that vehicles stop before boarding or
alighting, pay the valid fare for the trip and show tickets for inspection when
required.
Commuters have the right to ask the driver not to exceed the number of
passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle or board a vehicle, which is
overloaded.

During this Easter Holiday, more than 276 people were killed on our roads.
This is partly because many of our road users ignore road rules and disregard
the rights that most road users deserve. Commuters have the responsibility to
sit down when there are seats available, not to hang out of open doors or
windows and follow any safety regulations when required. They also have the
responsibility of not smoking or drinking alcohol in vehicles or public
transport facilities except in designated areas.

The 2010 Soccer World Cup is upon us and if the relationship between
transport operators, commuters and drivers is not amicable we risk the danger
of failing to accommodate and transport comfortably our visitors for this
prestigious event. I must say we ought to be able to overcome these challenges
before we can be complacent that we will manage the more than 350 000
spectators that will participate and watch the 2010 Soccer World Cup. I
therefore urge and encourage transport operators to conduct their businesses
with due care for the safety and security of the public and to ensure that the
working conditions for their employees are in line with labour legislation.

Operators must ensure that their vehicles are driven by drivers who are
medically fit to drive public passengers and are in possession of valid
professional driving permits at all times. It is high time that our drivers pay
attention to passenger safety, rights and respect. Drivers must listen
carefully to passenger complaints, identify problem areas and if appropriate
take action to remedy the situation.

It is the responsibility of operators to display the public transport
charter in all public transport vehicles in a position clearly visible to
passengers and to display telephone numbers or addresses on vehicles where
complaints should be directed. It is also the responsibility of operators to
prohibit drivers from harassing, intimidating or molesting passengers and to
take action against drivers who do so.

Ladies and gentlemen, as government we are determined to ensure that our
public transport infrastructure and services are efficient and improve the
lives of our people. In my Budget Vote in February I highlighted that a number
of budget allocations have been done to improve transport infrastructure and
services ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup and beyond. These allocations and
objectives are aimed to address all in the transport sector.

Government has allocated:

* R8,5 billion for Passenger Rail Infrastructure
* R8,2 billion for Public Transport Infrastructure excluding rail
* R5,5 billion for National Roads Infrastructure
* R19,2 billion for Airports Infrastructure
* R3 billion for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in rural access
roads.

These allocations, which will beef up transport operations, are aimed at
improving the working relationships between government, transport operators and
commuters. Operators have the right to be paid the valid fare in full by all
passengers, adequate, clean, secure and well managed public transport
facilities, including stops, ranks and termini. They also have the right to
adequate road infrastructure that is managed in such a way as to allow for safe
and cost-effective public transport operations and traffic management that
ensures that public transport services can operate effectively.

Regulatory and administrative processes that are efficient and effective for
example operating licence applications and permit conversions and assistance in
educating drivers and passengers on their rights and responsibilities are keys
in addressing challenges that affect the rights of all parties.

Distinguished guests, Cabinet approved the Public Transport Strategy and
Action Plan last month. The strategy aims to radically accelerate the
improvement in public transport by focusing on modal upgrading and
establishment of Integrated Rapid Public Transport Networks, which will include
Priority Rail Corridors, and Bus Rapid Transit networks in our cities. The
strategy is supported by the Public Transport Action Plan, which focuses on the
implementation of the strategy and sets out implementation in a phased and
incremental manner.

The Public Transport Action Plan is a high-level plan that supplements the
Public Transport Strategy. It maps out a Phase I (2007-2010) to fast track
implementation programme over the next four years that targets the initial
development of high quality Integrated Rapid Public Transport Networks in 2010
host cities. The essential feature of the Public Transport Strategy (2007-2020)
is the phased extension of mode based vehicle recapitalisation into Integrated
Rapid Public Transport Networks. These networks comprise an integrated package
of Rapid Rail and Bus Rapid Transit priority corridors especially in major
cities.

Ladies and gentlemen it is our responsibility as government to ensure that
commuter and operators' rights are respected. As such we will work earnestly to
maintain the networks that will require city-wide, transport authority
controlled networks of rapid public transport corridors together with feeder
systems of smaller buses, taxis, bicycles, pedestrian access as well as metered
taxis and park and ride facilities.

In conclusion, I must emphasise that our transport operations can only
sustain growth, investment and development if the rights of all stakeholders
are acknowledged and respected because our interdependency in this industry is
fundamental to the growth of our economy and social responsibilities. The
Commuter Charter and the Public Transport Strategy will take us a long way in
achieving our goals as a country of transforming our transport industry for the
benefit of all.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Transport
14 April 2007