Eastern Cape MEC for Transport Thandiswa Marawu, officially launched the Provincial 2011 October Transport Month Campaign in Woodbrook, East London on Tuesday, 4 October 2011.
This annual campaign which was instigated by the national Department of Transport, is an effort to highlight the achievements of the transport sector in the provision of a safe, efficient, affordable and sustainable transportation system.
The 2011 Campaign focuses on job creation and service with a theme: "Year of Job Creation and Service Delivery in the Transport Sector – Moving South Africa to a Better Tomorrow."
The campaign objectives are to:
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Highlight transport initiatives, which have a positive impact in all modes of transport
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Highlight investment made to create jobs and expand services and infrastructure, especially in rural areas
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Raise awareness on the important role that transport plays in the economy of the country
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Raise awareness on measures taken to improve the safety of transport users, particularly road users.
This year’s launch marked the establishment of a partnership with Engen which aims to reposition the freight logistics industry, which has been the backbone of our economy.
“Indeed with Engen we are number one, as the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, our relationship with Engen has its own history and today we have young people who are engineers, pilots and other transport specialists, who emerged through our Maths and Science project, which we run together”, said MEC Marawu.
As it is, 600 Eastern Cape learners are benefiting from that project and I would like to thank Engen for the support and today we are taking our relationship to another level with a particular focus on the wellness and careers of our truckers, added Marawu.
The department acknowledges that truckers, as transporters of goods through our roads (Road Freight) it is important that they acquaint themselves with education and training opportunities in the transport sector both for their own consumption and for their families.
As part of Engen’s contribution to the Decade of Action Campaign for Road Safety, they have a wellness centre at the truck stop to test truckers for illnesses, including:
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TB
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HIV
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Blood pressure
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Diabetics
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Eyesight
This initiative will emphasise that the partnership is about broadening truckers understanding of the sector they are in, because “Transport is the heartbeat of the Economy” and the department is committed to support this project to ensure that truckers understand the value they add in our economy.
