J Radebe: Integration of Search and Rescue Operations Consultative
Conference

22 October 2007

Programme Director
MEC for Roads and Transport, Mhlahlo
Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Metro Councillor Maphazi
All councillors present
Members of the Sasar Executive Committee
Director-General of Transport, Mpofu
Representative of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Muindi
Representative of International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao),
Onyeyiri
Distinguished delegates from the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
region
Ladies and gentlemen
Members of the media

I'm greatly honoured to be with you today because the Search and Rescue
Operations, especially rescuers themselves, have a special place in the hearts
of many people particularly the aviators and seafarers. We recognise that they
represent the last chance of survival for those who are in danger. And we know
that in the final analysis rescue depends on their courage, skill and
dedication.

For this reason I feel very proud to have been invited to open your
Consultative Conference. When I was trying to reflect on what to say today, I
naturally found myself thinking about what the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) region has done to make the work of Search and Rescue
organisations better and more successful.

But it also dawned on me that the concept of establishing synthetic aperture
radar (SAR) systems on a regional basis is not new but was in fact conceived as
early as 1958 when the Convention on the High Seas was adopted. The
International Convention on Maritime SAR, 1979, also urged Countries to
consider co-operation with neighbouring states during search and rescue
operations.

I was also reminded of the fact that the objectives of both the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Civil Aviation
Organisation (Icao) with the global SAR concept, is to provide an effective
world-wide system - so that wherever people sail or fly - SAR services will be
available. In most areas of the world, the fastest, most effective and
practical way to achieve this goal has been to develop regional systems
associated with the ocean area and continent. Therefore, our SADC regional
Search and Rescue efforts should be understood and treated as an integral part
of the global Search and Rescue system.

Programme Director, we also can not speak of the regional integration
without a short reference to the IMO's Florence Conference on Search and rescue
and Global Maritime, as well as the Saly-Portudal Declaration.

Let us not forget that the Florence Conference, in 2000, unanimously agreed
to the establishment of 5 sub-regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres
(MRCCs) for the three African sub-regions – the Eastern, Southern and Western
Africa. I'm glad to say that, in January this year, the second of the five
sub-regional MRCCs was commissioned right here in the Republic of South Africa
by the Secretary of the IMO, Mitropoulos, of which the first MRCC was
commissioned in Kenya in 2006.

I also do not need to remind you of the 2004 Saly-Portudal Declaration which
urged the African States to explore the establishment of sub-regional SAR
systems from an operational and financial perspective, and to explore the
creation of a co-operative SAR funding mechanism at the sub-regional level.

I'm therefore glad to notice that the central theme of your conference is
'Southern Africa goes all out towards the integration of aeronautical and
maritime search and rescue services.' I have no doubt that your conference is
the step in the right direction in realising the SADC Search and Rescue
Operations integration.

The stage has already been set by the existence of the SADC protocol which
clearly states that the SADC Member States shall take necessary steps to
develop their search and rescue capacity, through the establishment of a
regional search and rescue organisation. I am therefore pleased to note that
this process is being taken forward by this conference.

Just last week, we had a successful African Union (AU) Conference for
Ministers Responsible for Roads. As Ministers we agreed on the way forward
regarding the integration of our road infrastructure as part of improving the
connectivity and mobility of the African continent.

This conference is therefore another foundation for the establishment of SAR
services within the region. Your acceleration of this initiative will not only
ready the SADC Region for the 2010 soccer world cup, but it will also create a
legacy for our regional search and rescue authorities to be able to handle any
distress situation beyond 2010.

Distinguished guests, it must be emphasised that while it is the
responsibility of various governments to ensure safety and security of its
people, but it is through co-operation with all stakeholders that maximum
benefits will be felt. This means that the business sector, particularly the
maritime and aeronautical industry have a moral obligation to partner with
States in this noble cause of saving lives, hence our motto, 'Joining Hands so
that others may live.'

I am grateful that in South Africa, this partnership is evident through a
number of private and voluntary organisations that participate in the search
and rescue efforts of the South African Search and Rescue (Sasar)
organisation.

Voluntary organisations such as the National Sea Rescue Institute, Hamnet,
Mountain Club of South Africa, Off Road Rescue Unit - who are members of the
South Africa Search and Rescue Organisation - have to be commended for the
marvellous way they respond and execute their tasks during search and rescue
operations. It is however astonishing to note that these organisations rely on
the generosity of donors to maintain the vital life-saving services they
provide. It is therefore our collective and individual responsibility to
develop and ensure a safety culture and heeding safety warnings, so that we
minimize the usage of these scarce resources.

Programme Director, let me also emphasise that the aviation and maritime
industry must take advantage of the opportunities presented by advanced
technologies rather than responding to the pressures resulting from a disaster.
In particular, the provision of the long-range identification and tracking of
the movement of ships system that comes into effect globally in January 2008,
would be critical to SAR authorities particularly during operations. I would
therefore urge you to familiarise yourselves and take advantage of this
technological development.

It would also be tempting to predict that one day we shall be able to leave
the 'search' out of the Search and Rescue especially with the introduction of
highly advanced and accurate emergency beacons.

I think we can all look forward to a steady improvement in shipping and
aviation safety, even though the sea and weather have a nasty way of taking us
by surprise. But I also believe that no matter what wonders technologies
produce, they will still depend on people for their implementation, and it is
people, the seafarers and the aviators, who suffer most if something goes
wrong.

We are also constantly reminded that most accidents at sea are due to human
error. We must therefore continue to focus on why people make mistakes - is it
lack of training or a combination of many factors? These are just some of the
questions before us. We must make sure that we deal with these questions
willingly, not grudgingly, because the expense of not doing so is enormous.

This means that with the advancement of technology, people will have to
possess greater skills, be better trained and more motivated to do their jobs
properly. It is through this regional integration that we could start making a
difference.

And the commitment shown by your members, often at the risk of their own
lives, is legendary. I hope that one day we will celebrate a year in which no
lives are lost at sea or during air crashes. And that as a result, no search
and rescue missions will have to be launched. While unfortunately I do not
believe that such a day will come, it doesn't mean that we should not aspire to
it. I expect that everyone attending this conference will work towards that
objective.

The fact that safety standards have generally improved over the years seems
to me to be a reason for tripling our efforts in the implementation of our
declarations. There is little point in complaining about the safety of airspace
and oceans if experience shows that the Declarations we sign are not
implemented. I would therefore like to conclude by saying the resolutions of
this conference must not just be a pipe dream but must be turned into
reality.

With those few words, I would like to declare this conference opened and
wish all participants fruitful discussions.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Transport
22 October 2007