Speech delivered by the Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga on the occasion of the launch of the 2023 Easter Traffic Law Enforcement Campaign and Pass-out Parade held at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville on 31 March 2023 at 11h00
Deputy Minister: Mr Lisa Mangcu
Members of Executive Councils responsible for transport and traffic matters
Chairperson of the RTMC: Ms Nomsa Mufamadi
Members of the RTMC Board present
Director-General: Adv James Mlawu
DDG for Roads in the Department of Transport: Mr Chris Hlabisa
CEO of the RTMC: Adv Makhosini Msibi
Heads of Provincial Departments of Transport
Heads of traffic training colleges
Representatives from Quality Council for Trades and Occupations
Representatives from South African Safety and
Security Training Authority
Our important guests, the traffic officers who are passing out today
Esteemed guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
The launch of our Easter Traffic Law Enforcement campaign this year takes on a unique flavour. This launch takes place against the backdrop of a pass-out parade of young men and women who have recently graduated and qualified to join the ranks of our traffic law enforcement officers.
This is a proud moment not only because it adds boots on the ground, but because it signals a new era in traffic policing. As we celebrate the pass-out of the first cohort of graduates with a National Qualification Framework level 6 qualification we are creating a career path for these young men and women to lead a new generation of traffic officers. A new generation that will bring to the table fresh and innovative solutions to the intractable challenge of the carnage on our roads.
The task of achieving a reduction of 25% of fatalities on our roads looms large and requires of us to employ new strategies that have a multiplier effect. The first of those strategies is the deployment of these new officers across the length and breadth of our country. This will be reinforced by technological innovations that will ensure that there is no place to hide for those determined to undermine the rule of law on our roads.
It gives me great pleasure to stand before this parade, and welcome young, enthusiastic and dedicated people into the army of traffic law enforcement officers.
Reflection on the Graduation
Just yesterday, we had a historic graduation, where our Patriotic 21st Century Traffic Officers received their NQF Level 6 Diplomas. Present were their families and community members, who wanted to join in and celebrate the achievement of their children who were transitioning to the world of work. Most families were jubilant because they knew that this graduation meant a social change in the trajectory of their families. This is the case because, unlike many who graduate and receive qualifications but still have to seek for employment.
Your case is different, because as you complete and obtain your diploma, you are also guaranteed employment
As you join the Public Service as Patriotic South African Public Servants. You are expected to be conscious of your critical role in upholding the rule of law. You must personify the Batho Pele principles by being ethical, fair, selfless and most of all patriotic in carrying out your daily duties.
The Sancity of the Road Traffic Law Enforcement Officer Oath of Office
To our Traffic Officers,
I have listened with keen interest as you recited the Road Traffic Law Enforcement Officer Oath of Office. This oath is not a set of empty words that you recite at ceremonial events. It is actually a patriotic contract that you have signed with the people of South Africa, which equally binds you to all other laws and regulation that guide your career in the traffic law enforcement fraternity. It is binding on your conscience, and it should guide everything you do in the traffic law enforcement environment.
You must realize that by signing the Oath you have made a commitment to the nation that you will conduct yourself with honour and integrity. By saying “with honour, I shall not betray my badge, my integrity, my character or the public trust,” you have pledged to always conduct yourselves with the highest level of probity.
I want to remind you that every time you wear that uniform, and put on the badge, you are a representative of the people. You carry the authority of the State, and therefore, your conduct must emulate the ethos that we stand for. We shall be judged according to your conduct, and you dare not disappoint us.
By saying “I shall be true to the ethics of road traffic law enforcement. I shall have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions,” you have sworn that you will always conduct yourself with discipline and pledge that the fight against corruption shall be a standard by which you will be judged. You have promised that you will not look the other way when you see your colleagues engaging in conduct that brings shame to the traffic fraternity.
By reciting the words, as you have done, “I shall uphold the constitution, my community, and the profession I serve. I shall never place myself above the people I serve,” you have undertaken to be a patriot and a servant of the people. It means that as law enforcement officers, you will uphold the Constitution and abide by all other laws of the country. In addition, you will ensure that others comply with the law as well.
As a patriot you will be expected to put the interest of your country first and should not allow yourselves to be bought with money or other inducements.
As you will soon be deployed to the country’s road network, to save lives of South African citizen, which is part of the mandate of the National Department of Transport through the Road Traffic Management Corporation. And, we believe that with the caliber of your training and zeal, you will carry this mandate with distinction.
Traffic Law Enforcement and Road Safety
Ladies and gentlemen;
The timing of this pass out only a few days before the start of the Easter long weekend could not have been more opportune. It sends a positive signal that we are ready to raise the bar in our efforts to arrest the scourge of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on our roads and deal with the conduct of those who believe they will unleash lawlessness with impunity. That ship has long left the port and they will be caught.
Traffic officers play a pivotal role in enforcing the law on our roads, but law enforcement on its own cannot make our roads safe. Road safety is a collective responsibility that requires all of us to play our part in appreciating that the road is a shared space and take responsibility for our actions. Road users have a duty to observe the rules of the road and respect the rights of others who have as much right to use the road, be they pedestrians, cyclists, motorists or motorcyclists. This is a duty traffic law enforcement officers will enforce without fear or favor.
It is important to note that human factors remain the leading causes of road crashes, contributing 85% of all root causes. We must intensify our focus on human factors and introduce measures to reverse this trend.
It is for this reason that we that have chosen #Zithibe, meaning Resist the Temptation, as the theme for the 2023 Easter Arrive Alive campaign. This theme is a clarion call to all road users to restrain themselves and resist the temptation to engage in reckless behavior on the road. Such behavior will be met with the full might of the law.
This is equally a call for motorists to resist the temptation to drive at excessive speed; nor drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and to resist the temptation to talk on cell phones or using other electronic devices while driving.
For pedestrians this is a call to resist the temptation to cross the road when it is not safe to do so and avoid hitch hiking on busy arterial routes during peak travel periods. This is also a call to the traffic officers to resist the temptation to take bribes and allow offenders and those driving of unroadworthy vehicles to go unpunished. The arm of the law is long and will reach everyone who think they can perpetuate lawlessness with impunity.
To the young men and women standing on Parade, I congratulate you for the choice you have made to pursue a career in traffic law enforcement. I have no doubt that you have received a training befits a true patriot, a training has imbued you with the noble values of service to our people first and serving with the dedication, discipline, and honour.
As officers of the law the task that lies ahead of you is daunting but certainly not insurmountable. The strides that have been made in recent years to arrest the carnage and reduce road crashes gives me confidence that we are on the right path towards realizing the goals set out in the United Nations Decade for Road Safety and the National Development Plan to reduce road fatalities by 50% in 2030.
Road Crashes Statistics
Our statistics indicate that the number of fatal crashes decreased by 30% in the Easter of 2022, year-on-year, compared to the previous year from 222 to 156 fatal crashes. The number of fatalities decreased by 32% from 270 in 2021 to 184 in 2022.
The deployment of technology such as numberplate recognition, the mobile vehicle testing stations and hand-held devices such as the e-force, has enabled traffic officers to obtain real time information about motor vehicles and are assisting to improve the enforcement of the law.
The 365 Day Road Safety Programme
Ladies and gentlemen;
Once today’s events have been concluded and the administrative process finalized, these new traffic officers will be deployed to improve the visibility traffic law enforcement on a 24hours, seven days a week (24/7) basis. Their daily deployment will enhance the implementation of the 365 days rolling law enforcement plan to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities by:
- Improving detection and likely successful prosecution of traffic offences;
- Reducing opportunities for criminal opportunity on our roads and
- Instilling the culture of road user behavior and compliance with the law.
Conclusion
To the young men and women on parade today, I would like to commend you for the discipline, dedication, and commitment you have shown during training. You have done your country proud and we applaud each and every one of you for choosing a career in law enforcement. This is a career for selfless men and women who dedicate their lives to ensuring that the people of South Africa are safe on our roads.
Your performance and good behaviour during training shows that you came to the Traffic Academy willing to be good officers of the law that the county can rely on. I am hopeful that you will continue to behave and carry yourselves in a manner that will make the traffic fraternity and the country proud.
I must extend a word of gratitude to your families, and loved ones - some of whom are here – for releasing you to serve the nation. I also want to thank you in advance for giving your loved ones to serve the people, at a time you need them the most, during holidays such as Easter, Christmas, and long weekends. They will be out there on our roads, braving the elements to protect all of us and ensure that there is law and order on our roads. We thank you for the sacrifices you will continue to make.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me express my sincere gratitude to the RTMC Board and Executive management team, the head of the traffic academy, the academic and support staff for their leadership, guidance, and unwavering support for the duration of the training.
I also recognized the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations and the SASSETA for the support they have provided to make this course a success.
I wish to also recognise the partnership and contribution made by the private sector, in the quest to save lives, Hollard and Distell have joined forces with Team Transport to ensure that the road safety does become everyone’s responsibility.
Furthermore; I must immensely appreciate the exemplary collective work of the department of transport especially the roads branch, our roads Public Entities, the RTMC, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) the Road Accident Fund (RAF), SANRAL and the Cross-Border Roads Traffic Agency (The CBRTA).
This is a team, that has been hard at work for a number of years dedicated to saving the lives of the South African people. You understand that you belong to the Public Service, which Cares for its customers – our citizens, and Serve them selflessly; because the people of our country come first in all we do.
Ministerial Pronnouncements
Ladies and gentlemen;
It gives me immense pleasure to announce that this first Cohort of Traffic Officers will be resuming work on the 2nd of May 2023. For a period of one-year they will be probational officers, which thereafter they will be confirmed for permanent employment. Its critical to say that, the confirmation of a permanent employment status will be based on their performance and conduct as Public Servants. And, I firmly believe that, as Patriots and change agents that they have been trained to be, they will surely be successful in receiving this permanent status.
To the new recruits I would like to remind you that you are now part of a profession that expects its members to show the highest levels of discipline, integrity and honesty, and the highest levels of care and respect for the people you serve.
In conclusion I wish to thank all the guests and family members and assure you that your sons and daughters will be in good hands in traffic law enforcement fraternity. May you enjoy the time with us and have a safe journey home.
Let us all ensure that we obey the rules of the road, Arrive
Alive, siZithibe…and be determined to live beyond the Easter period.
I thank you all.
