MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane: Unveiling of the safety month programme

MMC for Public Safety Emfuleni Local Municipality Cllr Mcera
Head of Department for Community Safety Advocate Mongezi Tshongweni
Senior managers from the Department of Community Safety
South African Police Service provincial management led by Major Gen Ledwaba
Sports, Arts, Culture Take Charge Sector Chairperson Mr John Sithole
Members of the media present

In our quest as a department to ensure that Gauteng becomes a safe and secure city region, we have dedicated February as a Safety month. This, ladies and gentlemen demonstrates our unprecedented commitment to bettering the lives of all citizens of the Gauteng City Region. The Premier of Gauteng Province Mr Makhura has outlined the Ten Pillar Programme which is the pulse in all government departments. February as our commemorative month depicts among the many, our relentless commitment to the Ten Pillar programme as articulated by the Premier of the Gauteng City Region. These programmes are vehicles to drive the aspirations of the department of community safety. It is therefore incumbent upon ourselves as a collective that we begin to be seen to be taking responsibility for our safety as citizens of Gauteng. Safety is a collective responsibility which can be realised through a collective effort. This ladies and gentlemen requires of us to be safety ambassadors in the manner in which we execute our various duties. We have to be conscious of the undertones that to some extent exacerbate and magnify criminal and deviant activities. We need to refrain from giving criminals the respect they do not deserve. On a lighter note ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered to unveil our programmes that emanate from the commitment by the Gauteng provincial government that we shall execute the following:

  • Community Road Safety Councils
  • The Youth Safety summit
  • Anti-gangsterism camps
  • Traffic Wardens and Unveiling of new Fleet

Launch of Community Road Safety Councils, 27 February 2015

The World Health Organisation predicted that by 2020 road traffic accidents will be the third highest burden on healthcare worldwide, and traffic fatalities the sixth leading cause of death worldwide if not dealt with decisively. Admittedly so, major accidents and fatalities on our roads are as a result of jay-walking ,driver and vehicle fitness. Driver and pedestrian behaviour is not at a desirable level where we can guarantee safety on our roads as it is done with disgust impunity.

The establishment of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) dates back  to section 2 of South African Road Safety Council Act, 1960 (Act 1 of 1960), which ceased to exist with establishment of the nine (9) Provinces in the current dispensation. Its employees were transferred to the National and Provincial Departments responsible for Road Safety Promotions.

In 2010 the former Minister of Transport, Mr Sbusiso Ndebele pronounced the need to establish the CRSCs in each Province to serve as the first line of contact of service in their communities. The last year festive season statistics bears testimony to this, where majority of fatalities resulted in excessive speeding, reckless and negligent driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and pedestrians continues to be hit hard. Every motorist knows this is wrong but perpetuate this hideous and selfish act nevertheless, putting lives of ordinary law abiding motorists and pedestrians alike at risk.

The Community Road Safety Councils are self-less community volunteers who dedicate their time and energies with no remuneration or provided with uniform in the execution of their duties to ensure that Gauteng roads, particularly pedestrians are safer. Currently they operate in Westonaria, Randfontein, Tshwane, City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni respectively.

The role of the Community Road Safety Councils

Some of the responsibilities of the community road safety councils are to:

  • serve as Liaison officers between the Province and the communities
  • promote road safety awareness at hazardous locations
  • make recommendations on issues related to road safety promotion programmes
  • manage vandalism of road safety furniture like road signs boards and fencing on our roads
  • provide assistance to road accident victims on Road Accident matters, faith based issues and counselling
  • inculcate a culture of road and pedestrian safety for pin the community structures such as churches, youth clubs, liquor outlets etc.
  • serve in ward committee structures

Members of the media allow me to acknowledge the stunning work provided by these road safety councils and in particular single out in those working in City of JHB and Tshwane. This is because of the continued support provided by Tshwane Metro Police Department, City of Johannesburg, Department of Community Safety in their joint regular meetings where reports on hazardous location are shared and these entities deploy relevant and tangible interventions to resolve such.

Youth Safety summit 24 - 26 February 2015, JHB Correctional Service

The absence of youth safety policy in the province invariably had an effect on the mainstreaming of youth safety by government departments. It is for this reason that during his address at the safety summit held recently, Premier David Makhura reiterated the need to develop a youth safety policy which will provide broad guidelines on addressing issues inter alia, pertaining to youth in conflict with the law.

In order for the department to develop a meaningful youth safety policy with high impact, we saw it fit to engage in a dialogue with youth in Correctional Services who are already incarcerated and serving their term. These young persons with be able to input and share with us, what are the key attributes and challenges facing young people to end up in correctional facilities. This is a ground breaking innovation that will guide the policy formulation informed by the perpetrators themselves, aligned to the three pillars of Transformation, Modernisation and Industrialisation, which calls for doing business unusual in the spirit of the slogan that says ‘nothing for us, without us’.

I would like to applaud the partnership this department has fostered with renowned Professors in the likes of Professor Pitika Ntuli and Prof Khalil Osiris on moral regeneration and scientifically researched youth safety methods. Lastly, I wish to re-iterate my heartfelt gratitude for the commendable role that the media plays in educating and informing the citizens about safety issues and all that transpires in the Gauteng City Region. I know that it take very committed individual to pursue this well respected field of journalism. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once more for your support.

Media contact person:
Thapelo Moiloa
Cell: 084 805 2247
Tel: 011 689 3826

Province

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