Programme Director,
Members of the Executive Council and Free State Legislature, who are present here today,
Honorable Mayor, Councillor Jihad Mohapi,
Honorable Speaker and all Councillors present here today,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee,
Head of Department: Mr Sandile Msibi,
Provincial Commissioner, General Mpembe and SAPS Management,
Representatives from the Department of Correctional Services,
Acting CEO of RTMC,
Bus operators,
Commuters,
Volunteers and CPF Members,
SANTACO / Provincial Taxi Council and SABOA,
Fezile Dabi Regional Taxi Council,
Moqhaka Local Taxi Council,
Media houses,
All invited guests,
All the employees of the department, who work very hard to make our roads safe,
Members of the community,
Ladies and gentlemen.
We are here today to launch the 2013 Festive Season Decade of Action for Road Safety Campaign for Free State Province. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the period 2011 – 2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety, “with a goal to stabilize and then reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world by increasing activities conducted at the national, regional and global levels”.
Hundred (100) governments co-sponsored the UN Resolution establishing the Decade of Action, committing to work to achieve this ambitious objective: through an ‘Action Plan’ with targets for raising helmet and seat belt use, promoting safer road infrastructure and protecting vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The Department of Police, Roads and Transport will use the 2013 Decade of Action for Road Safety Campaign to ensure that “road safety is everyone’s business”. Together with our key stakeholders, the department will ensure that the message of road safety is spread everywhere.
From mosques, temples, churches, schools, businesses, and labour organisations, amongst others – in order that everyone is on board in creating safe roads for all South Africans. The Decade of Action for Road Safety is therefore a global declaration of war against road crashes and fatalities.
The Decade of Action for Road Safety is our chance to save lives: each of us has a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on the road. Therefore, let us all work together to make sure the world's roads are safe. If we lead by example we can save millions and millions of lives.
This is what the ANC Government has worked hard for in the last 20 years or so AND continues to work very hard for - a safer world for all. By all accounts, the deaths of approximately 1.3 million people every year on the world's roads is fit to be described as an epidemic.
The deaths of some 14 000 people every year, of at least 1 000 people every month, of no less than 40 people every day on South Africa's roads must be described as an epidemic.
Closer home in the Free State, the statistics in the last 5 years alone, are still a major cause of concern:
Accident Statistics Since 2009 to October 2013.
- The statistics show an increase in the number of accidents over the financial years, from 8 439 recorded in the 2009/10 period, to 23368 registered in the 2012/13 period.
- From the beginning of the current financial year to the end of October, however, only 4543 accidents have been recorded, which, if the trend continues, points to a decrease as compared to the previous financial year.
- The statistics also show a decrease in the number of fatalities, from 495 in 2009/10, to 382 in the 2012/13 period, as well as a decrease in the number of serious injuries.
- This point to an apparent decrease in the number of fatal accidents, or accidents that could lead to death, or serious injuries, for that matter.
- We believe that with more effort to decrease the number of accidents in general, it would further decrease the number of fatalities.
- Although no analysis of the categories of fatalities can be provided, it is well known that in general, pedestrians form part of about 40% thereof.
Alone we might not be strong enough, but we now stand together with the world to declare that road deaths can be stopped. It is all in our hands! Today, we say this call must reverberate throughout the length and breadth of our beautiful province:
In our homes, in our workplaces, in our institutions of education, in hospitals, in places of worship and everywhere. Most importantly, this call to end road deaths must be heard on the province's streets, freeways, malls and Churches Over the past 20 years we as an ANC-led Government brought dignity back to our people.
Today we are all prospering and share in the riches of our country and are much better off than during the Apartheid Regime. Through better infrastructure - more clinics, hospitals, housing and roads - we established better living standards.
Ironically, these achievements have also led to an increase of vehicle owners and road users and unfortunately to an increase of crashes and fatalities on our roads.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are bombarded daily in the printed and electronic media about the horrible crashes that occur on our roads;
About whole families being wiped out in one accident, about innocent children and vulnerable people who are killed or mutilated by road users who are not abiding to the rules of the road.
In just the past few weeks we learnt of a bus crash on the Moloto Road killing thirty people!!! ha moya wa bona o phomole ka kgotso!!!
Road traffic accidents cost the South African economy approximately R46 billion. Road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to victims, their families, and to the nation as a whole. These losses arise from medical and rehabilitation costs, loss of productivity and for those who need to give up their occupations to look after the injured.
There is no winner in this situation: Road carnage leads to untold suffering for victims and families affected. Of the world-wide road accidents that kill an estimated 1.27 million people, nearly half of the victims are pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, according to a report by the World Health Organisation.
Between 20 to 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury.
Also, road-traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged between 10 and 24, and the 10th leading cause of death in the world, after heart disease, lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS and other conditions, according to the WHO.
They also cause as many as 50 million non-fatal injuries a year, according to the report.
Ironically on Sunday 17 November 2013, we were commemorating the world day of remembrance for road traffic victims, just following the moloto tragedy!
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims itself was started in 1993;
Since then (1993) it has been observed and promoted worldwide by several NGO’s, including the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) and its associated organisa tions
And on 26 November 2005, the United Nations endorsed it as a global day to be observed every 3rd Sunday in November each year, making it a major advocacy day for road traffic injury prevention.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Investigation into road crashes reveal that in more than 90% of these cases the incidents are preceded by a traffic violation. This tells us that a crash is not just an “ACCIDENT” – it is a situation that occurred because someone contravened a rule of the road.
Be it excessive speed, reckless driving, a lack of concentration or, in short, a lack of respect for human life. There are people out there who act with impunity and expose innocent souls to tragic consequences. I believe we have reached a stage of saturation. Enough is Enough!
We urge Churches, Community Members and all Organized Groupings to support us in spreading awareness about road safety. Indeed, we applaud the role played by the Churches:
Dear Mayor,
Just last week on Thursday, we partnered with local churches here in Moqhaka to pray at sites at which fatal accidents had previously occurred. We thank those men and women of the cloth.
We invite all people of goodwill to consider seriously life as a gift of God, a precious gift that has to be protected, and not to be spoiled because of lack of respect, lack of attention or lack of responsibility toward our fellow human beings. We need to inspire a new collective consciousness regarding the management and review of all factors pertaining road safety.
As we launch the 2013 Festive Season Decade of Action for Road Safety program, we want to remind everybody that our law enforcement officers will be all out to do just what their title implies: they are going to enforce the law.
Five hundred (500) Traffic Officials will be out on the roads, complimented by members of the South African Police Services. In addition, we are filling vacant posts for 150 more traffic officials. We will spread the word on Road Safety Education in a friendly and professional way.
Law abiding road users can expect a smile and even a friendly handshake. But those in the wrong will need to face the full might of the law as we are unleashing Law Enforcement Operations never seen before. Road Blocks have been a daily occurrence since October Transport Month and we are intensifying these going forward.
Apologies to those who will feel inconvenienced because they are law - abiding citizens. However, we have to deal with the scourge in a concerted manner. We will stop and screen vehicles left, right and centre and will take No Nonsense of the wrongdoers. It’s an integrated approach involving Traffic Officers, the SAPS, Road Safety, Home Affairs, Social Development etc.
During this time of year we also focus on No Violence against Women and Children. Human Trafficking and transportation of contraband substances is also a serious problem and the law enforcement net that will span the country in days and months to come will also address these criminal activities.
The Festive Season as per implication is supposed to be a time of joy, peace and happiness. Families come together to celebrate after a long arduous year of hard work. It should be a time to celebrate achievements for the year and plan to overcome challenges of the year gone by.
It is unfortunate that some people decide to act irresponsibly on the road thus causing crashes. I must also take this opportunity to warn the Criminals that we shall never allow our people to become slaves of fear and intimidation by the criminals. We mean business and definitely we are going to reclaim our streets and neighbourhoods from criminals.
To the motorists and pedestrians please behave responsibly to avoid the wrath of the law. Do not indulge in dangerous activities such as speeding, drinking and driving, overtaking where it is dangerous, driving un-roadworthy vehicles, overloading, as well as jay-walking if you are a pedestrian.
Road safety is the responsibility of each and every one of us. We must try to make people more aware and sensitive to these matters, so that our society can move ahead towards a safer future. We all have to drive responsibly and carefully and abide by traffic rules. Authorities, agencies and citizens must join forces to tackle this huge problem.
Let each of us contribute to road safety and pledge:
- To obey the rules of the road
- To buckle up
- To keep the speed limits
- To avoid moving violations
- Not to use cell phone while driving
- Not to drink and drive or walk
- To check my vehicle before undertaking a trip
Perhaps it is a bit early, but let me conclude by wishing all of you gathered here a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year. Let us meet next year to celebrate our achievements, being safe and secure.
In conclusion,
Let’s stand up, bow our heads and observe a moment of silence, prayer and meditation and honour those who saved the lives of so many people who might have died was it not for the care of a traffic official, a passer-by or an ambulance- or emergency medical assistant.
Let us also show a moment of respect to all the souls who have passed on and those who have been injured and maimed in road crashes.
I thank you all!
