Address by the Free State MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, Honourable Butana Komphela on the occasion of media briefing for the Festive Season Decade of Action for Road Safety Campaign status

Members of the Executive and Senior Management,
Mr D Qumbu, Chairperson of Provincial Taxi Council,
Traffic, Transport and Road Safety Officers,
Honoured guests"
Representatives of various media houses,
Ladies and gentlemen.

Let me take this opportunity to welcome and heartily thank the representatives of various Media Houses for accepting my invitation to this Media Conference. This gesture is greatly appreciated. We meet just in the aftermath of the burial of our former State President and world acclaimed Icon – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Coming from the Sporting Fraternity and having led the Portfolio on Sport at the National Assembly for almost a decade, I must not fail to also pay tribute to a Boxing Legend, Baby Jake Matlala who was also buried over the weekend.

I think it is only appropriate to stand up and observe a moment of silence in respect of these outstanding sons of the soil whilst also paying homage to all the victims of road crashes.

Programme Director, I am told we have already lost 16 lives in 11 road Crashes since the beginning of the Festive Season (December). Indeed this is a grim and sad story considering that the forthcoming week-end is expected to be the busiest before Christmas.

Compatriots! We are convening this media conference to specifically solicit your support in relaying the message about road safety and fervently request you to inculcate a caring attitude on the part of motorists and other road users.

Your coverage of the Life and Times of our late State President has been exquisite and very commendable. With the same breath we request you to be the ambassadors of Road Safety. One life lost is one too many. We therefore call upon compatriots in the media to intensify the Campaign on Road Safety.

A snap analysis of the causes of the recent fatalities reveals a scary picture. It is abundantly clear that the majority of road crashes which claim lives of people are caused by human factor if not negligence.

• 3 head-on collisions claimed 4 lives. Think of it, a head-on collision can only occur if one driver acts irresponsibly e.g. overtaking where it is dangerous to do so, drinking and driving which impairs vision and rational thinking, speeding and the thought that you can beat oncoming traffic etc.
• 3 vehicles overturned.  One of the vehicles claimed 5 lives after it hit a culvert before overturning and the driver was suspected to be drunk. For how long must we preach the gospel that people must not Drink and Drive. The other pertinent question is ‘why do people allow themselves to be sacrificial lambs, ready to be slaughtered by drunk drivers.
• 1 vehicle crashed into a tree and claimed 1 life.
• Hit and run. 1 pedestrian died. I can bet the driver or the pedestrian was drunk.
• 1 driver died of recklessness.
• A vehicle failed to stop and crashed killing 1 passenger.
• Driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed killing 1 passenger.

The picture painted above is very worrisome. I had an opportunity to conduct a Comparative Study of a 3 year period from 01 – 18 December. The picture that emerged is that it is not all doom and gloom.

Fatalities per year per category

Many interpretations can come out of this Comparative Study. For me two fundamental things become apparent. The number of fatalities for the same period has decreased over the years under study. However, this is not cause for celebration because remember: One death on the road is one too many. 

The second observation is that more passengers die compared to drivers. The situation here is caused by crashes involving public transport.

Without blowing our own trumpet, perhaps we can conclude that our collective effort has borne the fruit during this period of the year. Hopefully, taxis and buses are not going to change the status quo.

What have we done for the period 1 – 18 December 2013
(Special Projects and Blitz with RTMC)

Arrests:

• Discontinued Notices 124
• Impounded Vehicles  10

Maseru Project 13 December 2013:

• Deportations / Repatriations 111
• Number of vehicles searched 1 494
• Number of Persons searched 3 948
• Arrest Warrants 12
• Arrests Alcohol 2
• Arrests Other 3
• Notices Issued (Tickets) 268

Akudlalwa!!! The report above indicates that we are taking our work very seriously. The operations that we are embarking on are going to make it impossible for irresponsible motorists to elude our radar. We are keeping a hawk’s eye.

We are intensifying our Road Safety Campaign under the auspices of the United Nation’s Decade of Action. We really beg for your indulgence and support.

We are deploying all our officers supported by SAPS and other Law Enforcement Agencies. We are also deploying all available equipment (speed cameras, vehicle and person identification gargets, mobile courts etc.). Officers have been requested not to take leave during this crucial period.

I am reluctant to reveal where major operations are going to be held because some of you might share the information with friends. That will defeat the whole purpose of the exercise.

I can only humbly request all of you to support our Road Safety Campaign. It is a nobble act, an act of patriotism.

Ndiyabulela, Ke ea leboha,
Thank you!