Carnage on the roads causes more deaths in South Africa than HIV and TB, the Portfolio Committee on Transport has heard.
During the presentation of the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC’s) annual performance and five-year strategic plans, the Chairperson of the Committee, Dikeledi Magadzi, said she hoped the plan would take the country’s transport forward. “Regulations are critical. Parliament wants to work closely with the RTMC to make sure that it deals with the challenges it faces,” she said.
The CEO of the RTMC, Advocate Makhosini Msibi, told the Committee that part of the challenge is that road safety campaigns focus on the period around the Easter and Christmas holidays. “Road safety is not a Christmas and Easter thing, but every day,” Adv Msibi said.
Committee members were generally satisfied with the presentation, but sought clarity on a few issues. Committee member Leonard Ramatlakane asked about the RTMC’s funding model. “The presenter noted that the funding model needs to change, but did not elaborate,” he said. He also said that fines charged on the roads in each province should be the same.
Ramatlakane also asked for clarity on how officers were monitored. “Monitoring law enforcement officers is worrying, as they tended to sit under trees. Only visibility will be enough to deter transgressors on the roads. What effective monitoring does the RTMC intend to implement?” he asked.
Committee member Christian Hunsinger commented that statistical data on accidents, investigations and reporting was also a concern. “Data capturing seems to be a problem. What measures have been put in place to ensure accurate information?” he asked.
Committee member Paulina Boshielo asked the RTMC to devise a new funding model. She also said the design of some roads was a concern. “They are an accident waiting to happen. The RTMC should look at the engineering part of our roads,” Boshielo said. She also asked for more research on the impact of distracting advertising billboards on the sides of roads.
The Chairperson of the RTMC Board, Advocate Zola Majavu, said legislation was being reviewed to address all the discrepancies in law. He said the entity required over R1 billion a year to meet its mandated functions.
Magadzi called on the RTMC to say if it needed increased funding to meet the country’s objectives of safe public transport and job creation.
