October is Transport Month, and the focus of the Department of Transport and Public Works is on road safety and public transport.
We launched the safely home name and shame campaign in conjunction with LeadSA today. We will be relentless in our pursuit of drunk drivers and will not falter in our efforts to turn back the tide of carnage on the roads.
As part of Transport Month, we are asking every motorist to ask themselves why they don't use public transport, and, to go one better and take a bus or a train or a taxi to work just once this month. This month I have made a commitment to use each of the primary public transport modes.
It is pleasure that I announce the Transport Month diary of events for the Ministry and the Department of Transport and Public Works.
11 October 2010: MEC - opening address at the South Africa Road Federation Conference
The MEC will be addressing the conference on the future of Africa's roads. It is well known that roads and private motor transport are an inadequate solution to the issues posed by mobility, and Africa in particular faces major challenges in maintaining its road networks under increasing pressure from freight and private use.
13 October 2010: (Date not final) MEC and Metrorail - Site visit to Fish Hoek - Simon's Town railway line
The MEC will join Metrorail officials to examine the engineering operations currently underway to repair the Fish Hoek - Simon's Town railway line. The line is a vital link in a key tourist and military part of the City and we and our colleagues at Metrorail are looking forward to the line reopening in time for the festive season. Also on the table is the finalisation of new late-night trains to run to Fish Hoek and Simon's Town to and from the City.
13 October 2010: Overloading campaign operations - Cape Town
Overloaded minibus taxis are a major element of road traffic fatalities. Overloading places stress on the vehicle and driver and has directly causes accidents with high fatality rates. As part of safely home, the department is running an educational campaign for taxi drivers on dangers of overloading, the link to accidents, and the legal consequences.
15 October 2010: MEC to visit Ndabeni Impound Facility with City officials
Impounding public transport vehicles operated illegally, particularly minibus taxis, is critical to enforcement, and a major feature of our road safety initiatives. We will be opening a new pound in George very soon, to be followed by a second Cape Town pound, and are looking forward to inspecting the current facility.
15 October 2010: Jacob Humphreys hearing at Provincial Operating Licensing Board (POLB)
Another element of our Safely Home campaign is to encourage the owners of privately-held public transport to take responsibility for their drivers. We will be pushing for legislation that makes owners of minibus taxis and buses liable for offences committed by their drivers. Earlier this year an owner allowed an unlicenced teenager to operate his van, resulting in the death of a cyclist in downtown Cape Town. The Jacob Humphreys case, while he is an owner-operator, highlights the fact that there must be consequences for operators who flout the law.
15 October 2010: bicycles hand-over ceremony - 250 bicycles for previously disadvantaged primary schools in Overberg
As part of the Shova Kalula campaign to encourage the use of non-motorised transport as a form of mobility, we will be distributing two hundred and fifty (250) bicycles to schools in the Overberg, where young children are forced through poverty to walk long distances to school.
15 October 2010: Signing of chapman's peak amended contract - Cape Town
The chapman's peak pass has long held a special place in the hearts of many Capetonians, and happily the amended contract is finally ready to be signed, with positive results for all parties.
20 October 2010: Safely Home and LeadSA Mini Indaba on Level Crossings - Cape Town
We have noted with concern that the existing processes by which level crossings are assessed and where possible eliminated has been hamstrung by lack of financing, and in order to address this matter, Safely Home and LeadSA are convening a mini-indaba of all stakeholders to map out a way forward. Aden Thomas will be chairing the event.
21 October 2010: MEC to visit City of Cape Town's Transport Management Centre - Goodwood
It is critical that province and city co-operate on all levels and know each other's systems in and out - in this spirit MEC will be visiting the City's ops room at Goodwood.
21 October 2010: National Land Transport Act (NLTA) Workshops - Information Session for the Taxi Industry - Khayelitsha
The National Land Transport Act of 2009 involves a number of changes to public transport policy that directly affect the minibus taxi industry, and the department has been running training workshops throughout the Province to bring our taxi drivers up to speed.
22 October 2010: Bicycle hand-over ceremony - previously disadvantaged schools. Dysselsdorp
As part of the Shova Kalula campaign to encourage the use of non-motorised transport as a form of mobility, we will be distributing two hundred and fifty (250) bicycles to schools in the Overberg where young children are forced through poverty to walk long distances to school.
24 October 2010: Roadside Educational Campaign - Laingsburg; Beaufort West
Together with Community Safety, we will be stopping traffic on the N1 between Laingsburg and Beaufort West and checking for and educating about various elements of road safety. Information and pamphlets will be available on the dangers of cellphone use, drinking, fatigue and not wearing seatbelts.
26 October 2010: MEC Carlisle to address SA Institute of Engineering - Cape Town
27 October 2010: Operating licence information session - law enforcement officers - George
A major element of enforcement is ensuring that traffic officers can correctly interpret an operating licence and ensure that if they must impound a vehicle, that the vehicle is indeed being operated illegally.
28 October 2010: Operating licence information session - law enforcement officers - Mossel Bay
A major element of enforcement is ensuring that traffic officers can correctly interpret an operating licence and ensure that if they must impound a vehicle, that the vehicle is indeed being operated illegally.
28 October 2010: National Land Transport Act (NLTA) Workshop - information session for the taxi industry - Mitchell's Plain
The National Land Transport Act of 2009 involves a number of changes to public transport policy that directly affect the minibus taxi industry, and the Department has been running training workshops throughout the province to bring our taxi drivers up to speed.
29 October 2010: Roadblock: Educational Campaign (Fatigue Awareness) - Rietfontein
This intervention is similar to that on the N1 planned for earlier in the month, this time with a special emphasis on the dangers of fatigue.
29 October 2010: MEC to officially open the Athlone Shared Public Transport Centre - Athlone
Media enquiries:
Hector Eliott
Tel: 021 483 8546
Cell: 083 669 9609
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
