In the game of golf, when a golfer plays a shot straight to the whole, it is called a hole in one, in government’s service delivery when a political principal coordinates all efforts to ensure holistic approach; it’s called effective and accelerated service delivery.
Eastern Cape Transport MEC, Ghishma Barry did just that as she fixes her sights on ensuring effective provincial traffic management services on the roads by allocating R229 462 000 for this function. With only three months to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, one of the critical elements of the Department’s 2010 Transport Master Plan is traffic management.
“Honourable members would agree with us when we say that road signs are vital for warning and regulating traffic, as well as for assisting motorists in navigating safely to their destinations.Three road signs upgrade contracts have been completed in the current financial year on the R102, R63, R65, R67, R72 and R75as part of our endeavour to have the major provincial routes correctly signed in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Designs for the upgrade of road signs on the following routes have been completed: R56, R58, R344, R392, R401, R393, R394 and R396. These upgrades are ready for implementation by the Department of Roads and Public Works along with the erection of FIFA complianttemporary road signs that will be used to access the Public Viewing Areas during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This will be supplemented by billboards with road safety and crime awareness messages sponsored by INTEGCOMM.
Further road sign designs will be carried out on the R102, R330, R331, R335, R336, R342, R344, R345, R346, R351, R352, and R400. Speed limits will also be checked on these roads as the designs proceed,” said Barry.
According to Barry, a total of 22 permanent traffic count stations were operational during the 2009/10 financial year as planned with additional two permanent traffic count stations constructed on the R72.
“Together with these, 270 short-term counts were carried out as part of our programme to know the volumes of traffic using our roads.This will be extended by a further 250 counts in the new financial year. We have made data counted to date, easily available for the use of the public by releasing it in Google Earth format and that information is available on our website:www.ectransport.gov.za. We shall conduct road safety audits on 200 km of roads,” she said.
Barry announced that her department will continue to assess applications for changes in land use and evaluate traffic impact assessments that are referred to the Department through its links with local government and representation on the various township boards in the province.
2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup
Imparting her policy speech at the Provincial Legislature on Thursday, Barry said that as part of intensifying their plans for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup and beyond, 454 Traffic Officers have been trained on the refresher courses thus far and the remainder will be done in the new financial year with Phase two set to commence in the new financial year for the same staff being more intensive and goal oriented.
“We have further increased our Traffic Officer contingent through awarding bursaries to Eastern Cape youth to train as Traffic Officers, which resulted in the training of 100 young people. The last group of trainees graduated on 4 December 2009.
It is gratifying to report to this House that this week, we have finally paid out R5.5 million to our Traffic Officers to bring them in line with the rest of traffic officers’ salary levels across the country in terms of the new dispensation as determined by the Road Traffic Management Corporation Circular letter with effect from July 2009,” added Barry.
Arrive Alive
“In the new financial year, we have allocated R16.190million for the intensification of the Arrive Alive Campaign and the 2010 FIFA World Cup law enforcement activities. Our Provincial Task Team which was established for the intensification of the Arrive Alive Campaign and 2010 FIFA World Cup law enforcement intensification is operating very well. The objectives of this team are to maintain order on our roads and regulate traffic at stadia and public viewing areas. The team concentrates on alcohol abuse especially when road users drive and walk whilst under the influence of liquor or drugs with narcotic effect in partnership with municipal traffic authorities and the South African Police Service,” said Barry.
Traffic Stations
According to Barry, the process of establishing satellite Traffic Stations is still being pursued on strategic routes that are critical and notorious in terms of road accidents with some satellite traffic stations being under construction while some nearing completion.
However, the existing traffic station in Ngcobo in the Chris Hani District has been upgraded and the satellite traffic station in Tarkastad is at its initial stage.
“As the Honourable premier had indicated in her State of the Province Address, the accident rate on the Eastern Cape roads and the number of resultant casualties are unacceptable and should not be allowed to rise. We will continue to enforce the Road Traffic Act and its Regulations in pursuance of the ideals and goals to reduce carnage and the AARTO points demerit system will contribute to safer roads,” she said.
The will further enhance the management of the National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS) which is used for the registration and licensing of motor vehicles.Unpaid registration and licence fees will be followed up and defaulters brought to book.District Helpdesks will be instituted to speed up service delivery. The department already has these in Port Elizabeth and Queenstown and the remainder will be rolled out to the other four districts.
Barry said: “The department intends to continue with its initiative in taking the service to the public in accordance with the Batho Pele principles. To date 101 additional outlets in various post offices have been rolled out, 31 in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, 25 in the Buffalo City Municipality and 5 King Sabatha Dalindyebo municipality. A further 40 outlets were rolled out in the midlands area of the province.
The helpdesk function was devolved to district level as a service delivery effort to speed up applications for duplicate registration certificates (Transaction 1A6 and 14F, Personalized and Specific Registration Numbers and Revenue collection (outstanding license fees) has been implanted in three of the six districts. The other districts will be rolled out in the new financial year and more functions such as applications for special classification and exemption (transaction 121) and the registration and licensing of Government Fleet vehicles will be devolved.”
Safety
With issues of road safety close to her heart, MEC Barry says, last year we made commitments to this house that the Traffic Safety unit will maximise safety programmes to focus on the youth and community based projects in its quest to promote road safety education; the department did record successes and milestones.
“It is pleasing to report that 38 500 learners were reached through scholar projects and programmes. The school debate project reached 625 learners and 125 schools participated. Through this project, learners were exposed and trained on road safety topics, which empowered them with knowledge and skills that will make them safer road users.
The Participatory Educational Technique project was piloted last year. This project is a participatory process where learners conduct research about road safety issues/challenges in their environment. The national competition took place in KwaZulu Natal in November 2009. It is very pleasing to report that the Province was represented by learners with physical disabilities from Efata School for the Blind and Deaf in Mthatha. These learners made us proud by coming second.
On the Youth Convention project, 14 youths from municipalities across the province participated in the National Youth Convention that was held in KwaZulu Natal in June 2009. These young people were empowered through road safety knowledge and skills which they will transmit/cascade to other youth,” said Barry, adding that the Learner Driver Education project has ensured a successful acquisition of learner’s licenses for 37 learners from Cacadu, Chris Hani and OR Tambo districts and also Code 10 Driver’s licenses for six learners from Chris Hani District in Cala.
On the other hand, Barry said it is worth noting that the department has registered resounding successes in the sphere of driver education and training.
In this regard, 3 101 taxi operators were reached through recruitment and 71 drivers were reached through theory test, K53 and skills test in conjunction with Toyota Advance Driving. Mr Lunga Tilolo who was a Taxi Driver represented the province at the national competition in Mpumalanga in November 2009. He became the overall winner and was rewarded with a Toyota Quantum powered by Ses’fikile. The project has helped him from being an ordinary taxi driver to being a taxi owner thus becoming self employed.
In its effort to curb pedestrian death and fatalities, the department has conducted 17 trainings sessions to educate pedestrians about road safety - stray animal awareness training sessions have been conducted to reduce stray animal related accidents.
In the heavy duty category i.e. trucks and buses, the Eastern Cape participated in the National Driver of the Year Competition held in Limpopo in October 2009. Mr AJ Bexter from Queenstown won the award. This was the second year running that the Eastern Cape province has won this award. It is pleasing to report that training session for the category was intensified to 71 training sessions.
In February this year, the Traffic Safety directorate participated in the Best of the Best competition which was meant to select drivers who will represent the country in the World Championship to be held in Austria in September this year.
“I am pleased to report to this house that our province will be represented by two drivers Messrs J Hanse and J Schrieber who did well in the Best of the Best competition. This is, indeed, gratifying and shows that our driver education and training programme is bearing good fruits,” she said.
Stray Animals
With many accidents on the roads caused by stray animals, the department has moved to remove animals from the roads.
“We have continued to build partnerships with our communities in the fight against stray animals on our roads. Our Provincial Stray Animal Management Task Team which was established for the intensification of road safety education on this matter is operating very well.
The objective of the task team is to reduce road carnages and fatalities caused by animal collision on our roads. This was done through massive education on dangers caused by stray animals on our roads targeting community members, herdmen and stockowners. As such were able to reach 10 498 community members, herdmen and Stockowners along these following routes N2 fromDutywa, Mthatha, Dangwana and Mt Ayliff, R61 as from Queenstown, Mthatha, Port St Johns, R408, R345, R346, R63, R72, R396, N6 from East London to Queenstown, N9 Aberdeen Willomore, Graaff-Reinetto Aberdeen, R75 Uitenhage to Jansenville, R61 Aberdeen to Beaufort West.
About 5 120 stray animals were impounded within our public roads.
In preparation for 2010 Soccer World Cup with Road Safety investment of R1 million, the directorate will embark upon the following measures: 1 450 schools will be reached through road safety education, 507 500 children will be reached through road safety education, 215 crossing patrols will be provided, 7 829 adults will be trained in road safety education,” said Barry.
The new financial year will see the introduction of Road Safety Councils, which is a national programme, which involves a variety of stakeholders in road safety activities.
Barry said the province is expected to establish a Provincial Road Safety Council and coordinate the establishment of local Road Safety Councils.
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
25 March 2010
Source: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ectransport.gov.za/)
