Transport Minister statement on recent road crashes
The Minister of Transport, Mr Joe Maswanganyi is calling on all South Africans – motorists and pedestrians - to be circumspect when using the roads and directed the Law Enforcement Officers to arrest all transgressors indiscriminately.
Minister Maswanganyi reminds South Africans that Road Safety is not negotiable and that it is everyone’s responsibility to behave appropriately on the road.
“Where road users fail to obey the rules of the road, there will be consequences,” warned Minister Maswanganyi.
As we are about to enter the festive season, a period characterised by high volumes of fatal road crashes, Minister Maswanganyi, directed the law enforcement officers to heighten the provisions of the Road Safety Strategy as approved by Cabinet. This includes amongst others, the implementation of the 24 hour shift for traffic officers to ensure high visibility and greater impact on the prevention of crashes and a reduction of fatalities.
Minister Maswanganyi further warned that Anti- corruption operations will also be intensified to deal decisively with organised crime and corruption by law enforcement officers and driving schools that connive together to issue drivers’ licenses to undeserving candidates, which are amongst the crux of the carnages we continue to observe.
“Following the recent spate of road crashes that took place in different provinces of our country in the past few weeks, it is clear that there are some road users who are hell-bent to disobey the rules of the road regardless of our campaigns and messages sent in various platforms. We will continue to ensure that we hold all transgressors to account by implementing the Road Traffic Act”.
“The passing of the Aarto Bill by the National Assembly is yet another intervention that will ensure that necessary punitive measures are imposed on all traffic law transgressors”, said Minister Maswanganyi.
The point demerits system as a major attribute of the Aarto Bill will ensure that points are deducted from habitual offenders and finally remove them from our roads.
As the Department of Transport, we will continue to implement the 365 Days Road Safety Campaign, which declares road safety as a daily commitment by all entities of the Department working together with provincial and municipal authorities to intensify law enforcement operations. Through this campaign, we have been conducting law enforcement operations as well as road safety education and awareness activations throughout the country.
Minister Maswanganyi sends heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those that died on our roads recently and wishes those in hospital a speedy recovery.
Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 072 566 0827
