Programme director
MEC for Transport and Safety Ms Ghishma Gloria Barry
Members of the Executive Council
Executive Mayor Ms Zoleka Cata
Mayor Siyakhola Mlamli
Councillors
Government officials
Law Enforcement officials
Members of the community
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
Last Sunday, we launched the national Festive Season Arrive Alive Road Safety campaign in Orange Farm, Gauteng where I called for a strong partnership for road safety. On Tuesday we were in KwaZulu-Natal where we launched the provincial road safety plan.
Today we are here in the Eastern Cape to drive home the message that roads deaths are preventable; road deaths can be stopped.
From Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape and the entire country, our message is that Road safety is no longer just a national concern. Recently we returned from Moscow where we attended the First Global conference of ministers which addressed road safety as a concern which affects the world. Prior to that in July, we joined delegates from around Africa and the world in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where we called for a "Decade of Action" for Road Safety in Africa. Together we committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halving road crashes and fatalities by the year 2015.
From Tanzania to Moscow the whole world has now declared a Global Decade of Action against Road Deaths. It is no longer an issue for the Eastern Cape alone; it is no longer an issue for KwaZulu-Natal alone. Indeed, road deaths are now no longer an issue for South Africa or Africa on its own. As we move into 2010, the year of the greatest sporting spectacle the world has ever seen the FIFA World Cup - we do so as part of this global movement which seeks to make roads safer and to kick out road deaths.
We will win this if we have partnerships with community based-organisations, private companies, faith-based organisations and non-governmental organisations. We will win by addressing the three E's-Engineering, Education and Enforcement. We can stop this carnage! Engineering a safe public transport system to provide safe and well maintained public transport system the department is:
"improving the quality and life cycle of provincial roads by improving the spread and quantity of maintenance services
"promoting rail as backbone of our public transport
"implementing the taxi recapitalisation programme
"integrating land-based transport (i.e. bus, rail, taxi and non-motorised transport) with air and sea transport services to provide efficient and effective transport services
"ensuring that rural areas have effective transport services
"dealing with road deaths.
Enforcement - provincial clampdown
In this regard we are pleased that the Eastern Cape Provincial Traffic Special Operations Task Team in conjunction with the Buffalo City Municipal Traffic Services arrested 147 drunken drivers between last week Friday and Saturday in the East London and Mdantsane areas. The Task Team we are told also arrested a further 17 Drunken Drivers in Uitenhage and 5 in Aliwal North, bringing the total to 169 Drunken Drivers arrested.
The task team concentrated on unroadworthy public transport in the Queenstown area, and out of 83 vehicles tested, 17 buses and 10 mini buses were suspended.
A total of 120 summonses were issued for various offences and 12 warrants of arrests have been executed. In Mount Frere and Queenstown two drivers of buses were arrested after they were found to be driving their buses whilst the buses were under suspension.
This is the trajectory we are taking nationally during the festive season- there will be no tolerance to road traffic offences.
Enforcement and Education - AARTO
In 2010 we launch the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO). Within this system a driver is given the opportunity to voluntarily surrender his or her license by persistently breaking the law. Every driver starts with zero points and the maximum permissible number of points is 12. A person is allowed to drive until he or she has 12 points. Every point exceeding 12 points results in a three month suspension of the drivers' license.
The RTMC is envisaged to implement a National Road Traffic Management Plan for 2010. The plan includes: Integrated Operational Plans in conjunction with SAPS, provinces and Host Cities. The Department of Transport has identified the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy, which aims to prioritise law enforcement in public transport, with the RTMC at the helm of that initiative focusing on roadworthiness of vehicles amongst others.
SA Airlink
Let me turn briefly to this matter of SA Airlink. We are closely monitoring developments following the incident involving an SA Airlink Embraer 135 Commuter Jet with 30 passengers and 3 crew members which overshot the runway at George Airport on Monday morning.
We are concerned with the incident and we are considering grounding SA Airlink.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is investigating.
SACAA is auditing the maintenance, operating procedures and pilot training for the airline.
We will not compromise our people's lives whether they travel by air, road, rail or sea.
We will deal with such incidents and accidents decisively on all modes, the buses, taxis, rail, sea and air. This is our responsibility and we will not shirk from it.
Conclusion
During this festive season, in 2010 and beyond, our message is simple: Obey the law! Obey the law! If you obey the law we will never drink and drive, drive recklessly, break speed limits, or drive unroadworthy vehicles! If we obey the law we would not drive unlicensed taxis, drive without a licence or overload. Just obey the law!
2010 World Cup preparation
In 182 days the FIFA World Cup kicks of on 11 June 2010. A day after that Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape will host its first World Cup match between Korea Republic and Greece; on 15 June Côte d'Ivoire plays Portugal; on 18 June Germany plays Serbia
On 21 June it will be Chile vs. Switzerland and on 23 June, it will be Slovenia vs. England!
The World Cup is not only about sport, it is about transport. At any given time only a few people can get into the stadium.
According to the annual mid-year estimates from Statistics South Africa, in July 2009 the country's population was 49 320 500, of which 25 451 800 (52%) were female and 23 868 700 (48%) male. Of that the Eastern Cape has 6.64 million people. The Nelson Mandela Bay stadium only has a capacity of 50 000. So out of over 6 million people here, excluding fans from other provinces and countries, only 50 000 people will be able to physically get into the stadium at any one time.
For the 2010 World Cup to be a success, fan parks will therefore play a major role in raising the atmosphere during the world cup. This must start with the opening game Bafana Bafana vs. Mexico. The transport family will provide spectator transport to fan parks around the Eastern Cape. Together with the provincial government and the entire transport family we will transport fans around the country from the airport to the hotel, from hotels and homes to the stadium and fan parks and back.
This is because there is no world cup without fans. This we will do in safety and with reliable efficiency. This is our commitment because the World Cup is not just about Sport is after all about transport.
To end let us say this: By air from afar they will arrive in our country to see; by sea they will arrive in our country to see; by road they will travel from across the border and within to see. As hosts we are all players in this unfolding historical moment; play your part. It is not only about sport, it is about transport. Know your limits, don't drink and drive. Arrive Alive!
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
10 December 2009
Source: Sapa
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