Safety and Liaison Mr B Cele at the Freight Transport workshop, Protea Edward
Hotel, Durban
5 October 2006
All protocol observed.
* Freight drives the economy and is the engine for economic growth.
* According to the First State Logistics Survey for South Africa conducted
during 2004, logistics costs in South Africa make up a considerable percentage
of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amounting to 14,7% or R180
billion.
* The cost of logistics in first world economies is approximately five
percent.
* In South Africa, transportation costs have to be reduced to make our goods
globally competitive.
* At our last Freight Empowerment summit held in Pietermaritzburg last year,
my Head of Department Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa highlighted some of the major freight
transport challenges in KwaZulu-Natal.
* Road freight between the ports of Durban and Richards Bay and the interior
of South and Southern Africa on the N3 and N2 amounts to approximately 23
million tons per annum.
* The N3 between Durban and Gauteng is the busiest road freight route on the
continent. The Gauteng-Durban Corridor aims to optimise and integrate all
activities along the corridor to improve efficiency.
* Linking City-Deep, the planned Harrismith Hub, Durban Container Terminal,
Dube TradePort, the possible freight hub at Cato Ridge and other infrastructure
and operational initiatives will greatly improve the situation.
* With regard to rail, Government intends introducing competitors across the
entire rail network as articulated in the National Freight Logistics
strategy.
* The rail system in KwaZulu-Natal includes the main line from Gauteng to
Durban, which is the main rail link for general cargo and container traffic
from inland areas to the port of Durban.
* The line carries approximately seven million tons of cargo per year and
provides the main access route to the inland dry port at City Deep in
Johannesburg.
* Heavy motor vehicle usage in KwaZulu-Natal exceeds one million kilometres
travelled per annum.
* During June, July and August 2006, a total of 616 470 heavy motor vehicles
were recorded travelling along the N3 between New England road and Ashburton on
both the east and west carriageways.
* A staggering 5 199 accidents involving heavy vehicles were recorded from
March 2005 to March 2006. Many of these accidents resulted in fatalities.
* These accidents are costing the economy a fortune in terms of congestion
and clean up operations.
* Fatigue is a contributory factor to many of these accidents and long
distance drivers would rather not stop and rest. Many drivers are paid
according to the number of trips per month and therefore they try to maximise
the number of trips in order to earn a higher income. This is done at the
expense of insufficient rest which leads to fatigue and then accidents. They
are convinced that they can overcome fatigue.
* The stress factor of complying with a tight schedule and the fact that
most drivers are always in a hurry to their final destination results in
speeding which is another factor that leads to fatal accidents.
* Drugs, medication and alcohol are associated problems which result in
heavy motor vehicle collisions.
* To this end, dedicated enforcement through programmes such as Operation
Juggernaut and Operation Thath' Iskorokoro will be stepped up.
* The department acknowledges that there is a lack of suitable truck stops
in the province for drivers to rest, and we are addressing this. We are trying
to establish a truck stop at the Port of Durban.
* Another factor is the number of truck drivers who are HIV positive.
Operators must ensure that their drivers are properly educated on HIV and
AIDS.
* The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has embraced the notion that we
must include a communication and education component to this programme, which
raises awareness of appropriate preventative measures to avoid the transmission
of communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS, and Tuberculosis.
* The movement of dangerous goods is another concern and we are in the
process of finalising a comprehensive action plan for the safer movement of
dangerous goods.
* The possibility of establishing a designated dangerous goods enforcement
unit within the department is being considered. The department is also
considering imposing heftier fines on the consignee, consignor and the operator
in the event of a violation.
* Many drivers use alternate routes to by-pass toll plazas and to pocket the
toll fees. These roads were not designed to carry such large vehicles and are
therefore being destroyed. Many accidents occur on these roads and enforcement
will be stepped up on alternate routes.
* "Keep left, pass right" is one of the most basic road rules, but is often
violated. During overtaking and under pressure from smaller vehicles to move
over, the driver speeds, looses control and the truck overturns.
Overloading control
* Research has shown that overloaded heavy vehicles are responsible for
approximately 60 percent of the damage to the road network. In South Africa
this represents at least R750 million per annum.
* Overloading on South African roads is estimated at 25%. However, due to
stringent enforcement in KwaZulu-Natal, overloading is only about 12% of all
heavy vehicles.
* During this financial year a new weighbridge will be built in
Gingindlovu.
* The department has upgraded seven existing weighbridges to ensure
effective and efficient overloading control.
* The department is also considering imposing heftier fines on over-loaders
based on the distance travelled from origin to point of inception.
* The fines will be proportionate to the estimated damage caused by the
overloaded vehicle.
* Fines will be imposed on the operator of the truck and not just the
driver. A "100% compliance" approach will be enforced.
* A project to introduce self-regulation and promote professionalism in the
heavy vehicle transport industry is currently being piloted. The initiative
known as Road Transport Management System (RTMS) has been piloted in the timber
industry in KwaZulu-Natal during the past two years and has contributed to a
40% reduction in overloading during this period.
Empowerment
* Targeted investments, rather than large investments are required as part
of rural and second economy interventions.
* The road freight industry is currently dominated by large operators.
* The National White Paper on Transport promotes the entry of Small, Medium
and Micro Enterprises to the road freight sector, inter-alia through
formalisation of small transport operators, training in business management,
operator, driver and vehicle compliance with quality and safety regulation and
identification of suitable niche markets.
* The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department through its freight directorate has
committed itself to the development and training of emerging transport
operators so that they can become a competitive force in the transport
industry.
* In conclusion, October has been declared National Transport Month. The
Transport Month campaign is a government initiative geared towards
strengthening the link between awareness-raising and policy measures to reduce
traffic congestion by particularly promoting the use of public transport. This
year's theme is: Transport the heartbeat of South Africa's economy.
* We remain committed to provide safe, reliable, effective, efficient and
fully integrated land freight transport operations and infrastructure which
best meets the needs of customers.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
5 October 2006
