We are gathered here today because the soul of a great human being and leader has passed on. We are here to mourn the death of Mr Mthuthuzeli Molefe, first Deputy President of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), whose life was squashed by the hand of a human-being without a soul, the hand of an assassin.
We want to re-iterate our outrage and disgust at the cold-blooded murder of Mr. Molefe. We wish to again convey our condolences to his family and relatives as well as SANTACO.
We would also like to use this opportunity to correct the mischievous and incorrect media reports, which claim that Mr Molefe was killed after he had a meeting with the Minister of Transport last Friday, 4 September 2009. This is not true. Mr Molefe did not meet with the Minister of Transport at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg last Friday.
Mr Molefe attended a report-back meeting with SANTACO and officials from the Department of Transport, led by Deputy Director-General: Public Transport, George Mahlalela, at Gallagher Estate. The Minister of Transport was not present at this meeting. Let me say, however, meeting with government is not a death sentence! Meeting with the Minister of Transport, or any government official, should never lead to any death.
We, therefore, call on the media to report on such sensitive matters accurately. As Minister of Transport, I will continue to meet any person I want to meet. As Minister of Transport, I will not be threatened, or stopped by anyone, in carrying out my departmental mandate.
We have worked hard to bring peace to the taxi industry. I know that the majority in this industry have turned their backs on violence. Those who wish to continue with violence must know that they do not belong here, they belong in jail. We have absolute commitment from the Department of Police, including Commissioner Bheki Cele that no stone will be left unturned in bringing Molefe's killers to book. Regardless of where the killers are, the long arm of the law will search for them. We have no doubt they will be arrested very soon.
These criminals must face the consequences of their actions in a manner that sends a clear message to others that society will no longer tolerate this type of behaviour. Violence must cease forever to be a tool for power. Negotiations are the only means through which we have chosen to resolve our differences with the taxi industry.
On 11 June, when we launched the National Joint Working Group (NJWG) on Public Transport, we started a Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) of the taxi industry. We want to re-emphasise today that our agenda is very broad, deliberately so, so we can table everything and any issue for the NJWG to discuss.
From this platform, we call on all stakeholders in public transport, taxi owners and operators, the associations, the community of commuters, civil society and all levels of government to work tirelessly towards the success of the NJWG. Mr. Molefe's death must spur us on, and not deter us, to complete the mission of broadening the role of the taxi industry in our transport sector and our economy.
We must recommit ourselves today that we will address, with even greater gusto, all the issues on the agenda of the NJWG. These include the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and other integrated public transport network projects, taxi subsidisation and Taxi Recapitalisation, legislation, licensing and regulatory issues, enterprise development and communication and stakeholder engagement.
We must pursue a common agenda with determination to provide a sustainable, effective, safe and affordable public transport system to our people and ensure that the legacy of apartheid planning is reversed.
Our biggest question, as the Department of Transport, is: Where are Blacks, economy? We want the taxi industry to move into the centre of the transport sector, into the centre of our economy. For that dream to become a reality, we must work together, with men and women of vision, and together banish all violence and victimisation.
To friends and colleagues, we say only in conditions of peace can we can all prosper. Let us, therefore, banish violence. Let us promote peace.
We must do this for the sake of Mr. Molefe, and countless others, who senselessly lost their lives.
To the family, we say Akwehlanga Lungehliyo! Mndeni wakwaMolefe bekani lonke usizi lwenu kuJehova. Iyasho iNcwadi eNgcwele ithi: "UJehova ungumalusi wami angiyukweswela. Ungiyisa emadlelweni aluhlaza. Noma ngihamba ethunzini lokufa, angiyukwesaba okubi ngoba wena unami njalo.
Intonga nodondolo lwami kuyangiduduza. Ulungisa itafula lami phambi kwezitha zami. Ugcoba ikhanda lami ngamafutha indebe yami iyachichima.
Umusa nesihawu kuyakungilandela yonke imihla yokuphila kwami.
Ngiyakuhlala endlini kaJehova kuze kube ngunaphakade” (Psalm 23:1).
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
10 September 2009
