Let me thank the media for an overwhelming response to this briefing, showing how important our media views matters of safety on our roads, heeding the call to be in partnership with us as Government in this national duty and carrying out their patriotic duty, all in one.
This media conference was convened to focus on the preliminary picture on road safety during this festive season, give status report on Moloto Road corridor development and last, and equally important make a National Call to Prayer for Safer Roads.
Before I share with you the substance of our business of the day, let me request you all to take a minute for candle lighting. This candle lighting signifies two things; firstly, to remember those, whose lives were lost and those who are maimed on our roads on a daily basis, and, secondly, to light the way for all of us during our journeys to various destinations on our roads this Christmas Season.
During our October Transport Month this year, we announced measures on road safety in its entirety, including our programme for the festive and other peak seasons in the year.
As part of initiatives communicated to all South Africans, we held a nation-wide Road Safety Summit to commit South Africans of all hue and cry to a joint responsibility for their safety and that of their fellow South Africans.
As government, we subsequently published regulations on the use of safety belts for passengers and child restraints particularly for children under the age of 10. Our traffic law enforcement officers have since been directed to effect punitive measures.in instances of non-compliance.
We are also looking into speed governing to public transport vehicles in particular, and forced resting for drivers after a two-hour. The breatherlyser / drager has been legislated to deal with the abuse of alcohol on our roads.
Our key messages on speed, alcohol intake, respect and sensitivity to other road users are constantly propagated through various media.
It is therefore of great concern to us that our education and enforcement messages fall short of reaching every road user. We believe that more can and needs to be done to wrestle the monstrous carnage on our roads.
The picture that we have of fatal crashes on our roads are scary, to say the least. Looking at statistics from 1 December, which is the commencement of the festive period in our transport calendar, we realise that we are still seriously challenged and required to raise more voices to reach out to our South African community.
Ladies and gentlemen,
You shall recall that the Road Traffic Management Corporation has started and will continue assisting us with Weekly Festive Season Road Safety Reports, which are to be made available every Tuesday at 14h00, comprising information on the occurrence of fatal crashes, contributory factors, road safety tips and hit, and the necessary contact information.
From the 1st of December to date, more than 600 fatal crashes have occurred, claiming more than 600 lives on our roads.
Fatal crashes that were reported happened as follows:
- On 1 December, a major fatal crash claiming the lives of 14 people happened on the Wolmaranstad Road, 20km from Klerksdorp in North West
- Nine (9) fatalities were reported due to another major fatal crash that happened on the N11 between Middelburg and Grobersdal in Limpopo on 6 December Boyce Avenuenother major fatal crash occurred on 12 December on the N2 near Uphongolo in the KZN, claiming 07 lives
- On the following day, 13 December, 7 lives were lost due to a major fatal crash that happened on the N1 between Laingsburg and Beaufort West in the Western Cape
- Twenty (20) crashes have been reported on the N1, N12 and the R31 in the Northern Cape since the beginning of December
- Most recently, a truck and a bus collided on the R61,15km from Queenstown, claiming 3, leaving 25 passengers injured.
Major contributory factors to these crashes are dangerous overtaking, driver fatigue excessive speed and drinking and driving. To this end, we continue to spread clear messages to drivers and other road users:
- Do NOT overtake when it is not safe to do so;
- Obey traffic rules and road signs; and
- Do NOT drink and drive or drink and walk
- Drivers should have enough rest.
Fellow South Africans and Moloto road users and Communities,
As a responsible government, we feel the obligation to communicate what government is doing about the much spoken about Moloto Road.
Since the last Moloto road fatal crash of 11th November this year, the Government, led by the department of transport has done tremendous work in addressing short, to medium to long-term challenges and needs of R573, otherwise known as Moloto Road.
Taking into account policy pronouncements and work undertaken since 2004, three important structures were put in place to drive the Moloto Development Corridor, namely; a Project Management Committee (PMC), a Steering Committee (SC) and a Political Oversight Committee (POC).
These are inter-Governmental structures to provide governance and communication on the development of the corridor.
The PMC consists of technical experts who report to the Steering Committee comprised of Directors-General, Deputy Directors-General and Senior officials of affected departments, and Municipal Managers.
These committees then report to the POC to oversee the development process, take decisions and give directive for implementation.
It consists of Cabinet Ministers of affected departments, MECs from Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces and Executive Mayors from Tshwane and affected Districts in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The entire process is jointly championed by the Minister of Transport and the Premier of Mpumalanga province.
At a meeting of the Political Oversight Committee held on 18 December 2013, the rapid rail option which was recommended as the preferred option in the feasibility study was endorsed.
Further detailed investigation of the rapid rail option will now be conducted with the aim to complete the feasibility study in March 2014.
A Project Implementation and Management Office will be established within the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to take the project forward towards implementation.
In order to improve traffic safety on the route, interim road improvement measures will be investigated and implemented in the short term. These short term measures are largely of an engineering nature tampered somehow with education to road users, especially to communities along the R573;
- A geometric and capacity upgrade and improvement of intersection capacity and safety,
- Improvement of the design of the road to 120 km/h, whose current design is for less yet motorists tend to believe they can go up to 120 km/h,
- Improvement of positions and capacity of bus-bays,
- Lighting of selected intersections,
- Roadway rehabilitation,
- Weighbridge and vehicle fitness testing facilities,
- Closure of informal, unsafe and illegal accesses and improved sight distances.
Approximately R1.92 billion capital will be required for the upgrading of 120km of the R573 / Moloto Road, for a 20 year lifespan period. Another estimated R2.4 billion will be required for the upgrading of 240km of feeder routes.
It is our informed observation too that the most fatal crashes coincide with periods of Christian holidays. It is common cause that Christmas and Easter seasons have the highest number of fatalities than most periods put together.
We have plans in place, we have committed individuals and organisations and we a vibrant and activist media on road safety, what we need in the whole puzzle is to add the praying community’s advocacy and activism.
Today we have in our midst here, prominent personalities in the Christian and other popular faiths in our country. We also have the Moral Regeneration Movement whose need for partnership with Government cannot be overemphasised.
We need to reach out to our huge praying constituencies in every community and in every church. Through churches, temples, synagogues mosques and other places of worship where the people of God gather in prayers and supplications, messages on road safety must be propagated.
It is therefore in order that as the Department of Transport, we call on our religious and faith based communities to focus their prayers and messages for Sunday, 22 December 2013.
This being on the eve of Christmas Day, we appeal to our religious leaders to focus the mind of our congregations on praying for our nation and for an end to deaths on the roads of South Africa.
We therefore start today by giving them the opportunity to make that call to our congregations and constituencies around the country, to focus on calling for God’s mercy on road users.
In conclusion, the department has always been proactive in identifying and implementing proactive measures that will effectively change the drastic situation in our country.
These are the following:
- Closing loopholes and limitations in the Cross-Board Road Traffic Act and other Acts
- The finalisation of the National Road Traffic Law Enforcement Code, as a regulation under RTMC Act, which is out for public comment.
- Implementation of a graduated driving license system
- Regulation of driving schools.
Kwanele!
Go lekane!
It is enough!
Dit is genoeg!
I thank you.
