in Soweto
23 October 2006
The first of its kind Transport Indaba took place from 22 - 23 October 2006,
as part of the October Transport Month Campaign. The indaba was attended by the
whole transport family including myself, MECs, the Director-General and heads
of provincial transport departments, chairpersons and chief executive officers
(CEOs) of transport agencies and major stakeholders across all our areas of
work.
The indaba was presented with three major transport strategies and plans
including the Public Transport Strategy, the 2010 Transport Plan and the
National Road Safety Strategy. It reflected on the progress being made in the
finalisation and the implementation of these programmes. But specifically the
indaba reviewed and reflected on strategic issues arising out of the detailed
presentations. Delegates identified some areas of improvement including the
removal of bottlenecks to inform the finalisation of the strategies and
implementation moving forward.
This document highlights the key discussions and resolutions arrived at by
the indaba. The MECs and I will provide more detailed briefings to other
stakeholders who were not able to attend.
1. Public Transport Strategy
The indaba interrogated various ways of strengthening the Public Transport
Strategy and the capacity to implement it. Delegates agreed on the following
resolutions to refine the strategy and implement it.
The Department of Transport was mandated to take learner transportation and
ensure public transport for learners with strong measures to regulate the
industry to prevent use of unroadworthy vehicles, overloading, as well as
clarify granting of operating licences.
Passenger information and communication in all modes of transport should be
made available as a matter of urgency and should be sensitive to people with
special needs. Public transport operators should receive thorough training on
how to deal with special needs passengers to improve the level of quality and
services given to people with special needs.
The Indaba highlighted the urgent need for an enforceable "Charter"
promoting the rights of the commuters and public transport users such as:
� women commuters, especially with children
� pedestrians and cyclists
� insurance and passenger liability in case of accidents.
The establishment of the Public Transport Ombudsman office must be
considered as a matter of urgency.
The public transport strategy should have an all-encompassing skills
development strategy in as far as the training of drivers to improve service
delivery and to improve their competitiveness and choices for users.
The strategy must include Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and also ensure
equity in the government subsidy system. Particular attention should be given
to greater involvement of women in the transport sector at large.
There was an overwhelming support of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme and
the Department was mandated to consider the expansion of this programme to
other modes of transport. It emerged that close monitoring of the scrapping
process should be prioritised to prevent recycling of old taxi vehicle parts.
It was emphasised that in-depth attention should also be given to operators in
deep rural areas as part of the recapitalisation programme.
The indaba gave its full backing of the transformation of the bus contracts
and its implementation, but agreed to strengthen the strategy in terms of
looking beyond bus contracts. And restitution should be considered for the bus
operators who were victims of apartheid.
It was also agreed to use other levers to strengthen the public transport
strategy such as the:
� operating licence strategies
� restructuring of subsidies
� rollout of priority lanes
� strengthen Information Technology Plans (ITPs).
2. 2010 Battle Plan
The indaba came out in full support of the 2010 Transport Action Plan and
that it was necessary to provide a world class eco-friendly public transport
system for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
It was agreed that stakeholders should work together with the Federation
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to ensure the best conditions for
hosting the cup in order to maximise benefits for the economy, soccer community
and for soccer visitors to experience the culture and hospitality of the South
African way of life.
Delegates emphasised the need to ensure that all stakeholders work together
to create an efficient, safe, affordable, accessible, reliable and environment
friendly public transport system for the World Cup and beyond.
To support inclusive economic participation, it was emphasised that a
special operating licensing dispensation for the public transport providers,
should be considered during the World Cup period.
The Department of Transport was mandated to enhance the monitoring and
evaluation of the World Cup preparation and publish regular updates on projects
progress including procurement targets with focus on the designated groups.
Lastly, delegates called for an intensive communication plan to popularise
the 2010 Transport Action Plan.
3. National Road Safety Strategy
The National Road Safety Strategy emerged as a key area of focus in an
attempt to improve road safety and contribute to the economic growth.
Delegates suggested some areas to be strengthened and ways of improving the
implementation of the strategy.
The Department of Transport undertook to hold two consultative workshops
annually, in January and June, regarding the Road Safety Campaign.
Regarding the Arrive Alive Campaign, provinces and local authorities were
instructed to use their own communication functions to support the national
initiatives in line with the national advertising campaign and the enforcement
calendar.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) was mandated to play a
co-ordinating role to ensure results in the intensification of among other
things, law enforcement levels. It was emphasised that the RTMC needed to work
and agree with provinces and local authorities to ensure co-ordination of
enforcement activities. More emphasis needed to be placed on rural enforcement
where facilities are inadequate and knowledge of road safety is minimal.
Delegates emphasised the need to encourage the formation of Community Road
Safety Councils as an empowerment tool.
There was a greater support to prioritise safety within the public transport
industry and it was recommended to have continued consultation with the
industry to ensure the implementation of appropriate and suitable remediation
measures, and also ensure that the control and the regulation of the industry
resides with a national body.
Priority must be given to pedestrian projects for all stakeholders. Local
authorities and provinces must reduce speed limits and make every effort to
build safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists, construction of
pavements, lighting, bridges, road crossings, traffic circles to slow traffic,
speed bumps etc., both in urban and rural areas.
Integrated planning must be prioritised with a view to creating a safe
environment, especially in terms of ensuring that schools, homes and other
facilities are not divided by main roads.
Delegates called for more budget allocation and skilled staff members to be
dedicated to road safety activities particularly in light of the 2010 Soccer
World Cup. Attention should also be given to building capacity within our
communities to deliver on road safety projects.
In what became an important interaction, delegates expressed appreciation of
the transport family to continue its interaction with stakeholders. The indaba
underlined that, while steps were being taken to accelerate the finalisation
and implementation of these strategies, focus should not be lost on the need to
build a safe, reliable, efficient and affordable transport system.
Contact:
Collen Msibi
Cell: 082 414 5279
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
23 October 2006
