Programme Director – MEC Vusi Shongwe
MECs of Transport and Roads - MEC Nhlengethwa
The Director General of Transport – Mr Godfrey Selepe
Executive Mayor of the Bushbuckridge Municipality – Cllr R Khumalo
MMC – Cllr E Selowe
DDG of Roads – Mr Hlabisa
CEO of RTMC – Mr Makhosini Msibi
CEO of RAF – Mr Eugene Watson
Chairperson of BUSCO – Ms Nora Fakude
HODs present
All dignitaries from SANTACO, SABOA, RTIA and C-BRTA
Officials from all spheres of government
Guests,
Performing artists
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Easter Weekend is upon us and oncemore South Africans in their multitudes will embark on various destinations to religious pilgrimages, holidays and will conduct their routine business activities. As a result, the period is amongst the leading and the most intricate fiveday period in the South African road traffic management calendar.
The department of transport together with the Road Traffic Safety fraternity, and the different transport agencies, namely; Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL), Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), Road Accident Fund (RAF), Cross Border Road Traffic Agency (C-BRTA) and other state departments such as South African Police Services (SAPS), Health and Home Affairs. We are also engaging the Interfaith Religious Community, Road Safety Councils, Institute of Traffic and Municipal Officers, Institute of the Licensing Officers, and we will once again go out to protect and serve the people of South Africa during this easter week - MAKING OUR ROADS SAFE. Ladies and Gentlemen, This year is not an exception from the previous years, and the road traffic fraternity is again in full swing to serve the South African Public and protect all road users especially commuters as a focal point.
Since December last year, we have been constantly monitoring the situation on our roads and working tirelessly to save lives. We have seen efforts being made at all fronts, by our agencies, transport stakeholders, other law enforcement agencies and the general public to reduce the 3 carnage on our roads. Addressing this problem can only be a collective effort. The Road Safety Advisory Council has been established and will be officially launched this year. The Council will advise on interventions to help us further reduce carnages on our roads, and also encourage all stakeholders including the general public, to join us in our endevours. We are however approaching Easter with mixed feelings as some of our fellow South Africans are mourning the passing of their loved ones due to irresponsible behaviour on our roads. Amongst the people we lost on our roads includes the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Minister Collins Chabane, and his two protectors, Leutenant Lentsoane and Leutenant Sekele.
The numbers includes distinguished South Africans from all walks of life who in most instance are breadwinners. I therefore express my sincere condolences on behalf of the Ministry and the Department of Transport to all those who lost their loved ones due to reckless behaviour on our roads. May their souls rest in peace. Ladies and gentlemen, This state of affairs on our roads is unacceptable and it must be confronted with the seriousness it deserves. As South Africans, we need to change our attitudes on our roads and be alive to the fact that our roads are a national asset which is regulated by the laws and must be respected and observed by all. Since I was appointed as the Minister of Transport of South Africa, I called upon all South Africans, both motorists and pedestrians, to ensure 4 that they respect the rules of our roads. As the ANC-led government we are committed to reduce carnages on our roads as our people are dying daily on our roads - roads which suppose to liberate them from the shackels of poverty and under-development. Whilst we acknowledge the progress we are making, one death is just one too many. This year marks the mid-term in our implementation of the United Nations Decade of Action for road safety.
We owe it to our country and the continent to achieve the Decade of Action’s goal of reducing road fatalities by half by year 2020. We have committed ourselves to achieving this by implementing a 3-6-5 day programme focussing on road safety and the 4 E’s, being Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation. The Easter weekend forms part of this programme and should not be viewed as an event that stands on its own. We are focussing on Easter simply because it represents one of the peak periods with high traffic volumes and high risk of road traffic crashes. Road traffic fatalities are among the main causes of death in South Africa. They disrupt family lives and bring about misery to the dependents when a breadwinner is lost. They also result in enormous social and economic costs for the country which include health care and ongoing rehabilitation of the injured. Ladies and gentlemen, As we celebrate Human Rights Month in March, we must put road safety high on the agenda as a human rights issue. We must confront the 5 scourge of road carnages with the same energy and effort that the people South Africa demonstrated when they confronted the apartheid regime on 21 March 1961. Road safety is a different kind of struggle.
It requires commitment and dedication from everyone to move South Africa forward to a safer future. We have engaged in this struggle together with many stakeholders including faith based organisations, road freight associations, the taxi industry, artists and others to inculcate a culture of road safety awareness. We have seen some progress. A total 148 fatalities were recorded during the Easter Weekend last year compared to 201 in 2013. This represents a 26% decline in fatalities, but still remains a cause of concern. We will continue to be concerned about number of deaths and reckless behaviour on our roads. Passengers and pedestrians accounted for the majority of fatalities and it can’t be correct. The types of vehicles involved in crashes were light motor vehicles (46%), light delivery vehicles (21%), minibuses (9%), trucks (7%) and busses (1). We know that most accidents happen at night on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday between 10pm and 6am.
We therefore urge our people to plan trips properly and to drive during the day. Where possible it is better to arrive at your destination late than not to get there at all. The national traffic police together with provincial and municipal law enforcement agencies will again be staging high impact operation on all known accidents hotspots and high volume routes this Easter to check for speeding, alcohol and substance abuse, over-loading and vehicle roadworthiness. Ladies and Gentlemen, Last year 283 323 vehicles were stopped at these operations whereby 43 433 fines were issues, 1094 vehicles were discontinued and 1457 were impounded. A total of 330 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Therefore our message to those who want to break the rules of the road is clear. We will catch you and there will be dire consequences. BE WARNED. Our commitment is to stop and check no less than one million vehicles and drivers every month, as part of our nation-wide road safety campaign. Like the Honourable President would say, “Siyaqhuba. Siyasebenza”. The capacity of our national traffic police intervention unit has been bolstered by the deployment of 100 brand new vehicles this month. This will improve their visibility and strengthen law enforcement in all major routes and hotspots this year. We will be implementing halfway stations or safe havens along major routes to address fatigue.
