Programme director
MMC for Public Safety in Rustenburg, Cllr Minah Mpengu
Servants of the Most High God, Borre le Bomme Baruti
MMCs and Councillors
Members of the Provincial Community Policing Board, Interim
Community Safety Councils
Executive and Senior Managers across all spheres of government
Representatives of the Road Accident Fund, North West
Business Against Crime and Public Transport sector
Distinguished guests
Bomme ba merapelo
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
The United Nations at its 64th General Council held in March this year passed a resolution proclaiming 2011-2020 the decade of Action for Road Safety. The resolution was proposed with a goal to stabilise then reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world by increasing activities conducted at the national, regional and global levels.
It classified global road safety crisis as a "a major public health problem" with a "broad range of social and economic consequences," and called for greater action from governments and recognizes the crucial role that multi-sector partnerships play in implementing Decade of Action goals on the ground.
As you all know, road safety is an issue that touches us all- young and old, rich and poor, but much of this burden is carried disproportionally by the poorer.
Not only does this scourge of injuries and fatalities caused by road accidents affect us personally, it has left many orphans, widows and families without breadwinners. The carnage also has devastating effects on our economy in terms of insurances and health related costs.
The participation of faith based organisations and in particular churches in our road safety programmes that are meant to contribute towards attaining the millennium goal boosts our confidence as we believe in the power of prayer. Through prayer, we experienced the grace of the Lord during the 2010 Football World Cup and delivered the best ever tournament that raised our stature among nations of the world.
The African project that showcased our hospitality and Ubuntu was made possible by the power of prayer that released an anointing that unified South Africans and suffocated the evil spirits of racism, criminality and threats of evil terrorism.
Prayer rewrote our history, amplified our vuvuzelas and flew our flag hence we are proud to be African and South African today.
We count on the continued support, prayers and closer relationship with the church to sustain the record of safer roads as we experienced less accidents during the football world cup compared to Easter and Festive Arrive Alive Campaigns though we had increased traffic volumes on our roads.
As a department we are continuously working on strategies to improve safety for those who drive and walk on our roads through education, outreach programmes and publicity campaigns.
In pursuit of our vision for safer roads and communities for a better life for all. We will also continue to increase our zero tolerance enforcement activities to reduce the carnage on our roads because one death on our roads is a death too many.
We appreciate the support and cooperation of business, the public transport sector and in particular the taxi industry for our effort to reduce speeding, overloading, drunken driving and un-roadworthy vehicles on our public roads.
During November, government’s programmes will focus on 16 days of evaluation of our activism for No Violence Against Women and Child Abuse. We urge you to intensify your effort and involvement in the 365 days campaign and your continued partnership with government and other sectors, to highlight this scourge and work towards its eradication among the vulnerable groups of people in our society.
The church should take the lead in mobilising communities not to look away from abuse but to take action for all other sectors of society to follow. Remember this is the year of activism for accelerated service delivery therefore we have to work closer with community policing forums and establish support groups for abused women and children.
As partners with government in the Moral Regeneration Movement, the church also needs to continue to play a critical role in ensuring that the moral values of ubuntu such as respect for human life, and respect for each other are inculcated, especially among our youth.
As we advance towards the launch of Community Road Safety Council and the festive season, we call upon you to intensify involvement in road safety awareness campaigns and crime prevention initiatives.
Encourage your members to support the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s signature for road safety campaign launched by Minister Ndebele as well as to conduct vehicle fitness tests and pre-trip inspections on their vehicles before they embark on long distance journeys and to rest every two hours while on the road.
We wish to express our gratitude to Rustenburg Local Municipality, South African Police Service, Road Accident Fund, Bojanala Bus Services, TCT Hire and Projects and AVBOB for their partnership in this initiative.
A special word of appreciation also goes to Tshwaraganang Phokeng Women Prayer and all our mothers for making this event a success. The Be-Attitudes for Mothers by an unknown author reads thus:
“Blessed are the Mothers who love God, for their children shall not be ignorant of their Creator and His plans concerning them.
Blessed are the Mothers who love the word of God, for their children shall know of the way, the truth and the life.
Blessed are the Mothers who love the house of God, for their children shall enter there and sit with them in the presence of God.
Blessed are the Mothers who love to pray, for their children shall feel the power of prayer and many shall find salvation.
Blessed are the Mothers who love to give to the cause of Christ, for their children shall become supporters of the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are the Mothers who love the family altar, for they shall have their reward in this world and in the world to come.
Blessed are the Mothers who love to speak kind words to their neighbour’s children, for thereby they shall win other boys and girls besides their own to Jesus Christ.
Blessed are the Mothers who love to be companions to their children, for they shall be called understanding Mothers.
Blessed are the Mothers who love to fight life's battles bravely with a strong and steadfast faith in God, for their children shall know where to find strength in time of need.
Blessed are the Mothers who, when they are old and gray, can look back upon memory's wall with no regret and can say, "I brought my children up in the fear of the Lord." Theirs are the mansions in glory”.
Wear the breast plates of righteousness, pray without ceasing for road safety because a praying nation is a winning nation. Wear your seat belts and arrive alive.
Ke a leboga.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
