The Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Premier of the Province
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Free State Legislature
The House of Traditional Leaders
Ladies and Gentlemen
On 4 October 2010, I launched the transport month under the theme: Transport- Moving South Africa to do more together.
Accordingly, the October month has been declared the national transport month by government to focus on the use of public transport and the improvement of related transport infrastructure net work for a better life for all South Africans Honourable Speaker I stand before this august House with a great sense of pride to mark the end of the most successful October transport month championed by the Department of Police, Roads and Transport.
In this regard, I extend my special gratitude to all Members of the Executive Council, honourable members of this august house at large, traditional leaders, councillors, business community, civil society and officials of my department for their unfettered support for the success of this month.
For us the Transport month was not just an empty public relations exercise, but a partnership in action to move South Africa to new heights through the transformation of the public transport sector for a better life for all.
Road safety
Mr Speaker, we long ago adopted a principled stance that road safety should not be seasonal to address challenges during the festive season and Easter vacation. We are constantly and consistently advocating road safety 24/7 throughout the year. Members of this August House will agree with us that we cannot stand idle whilst scores of people die on daily basis as a result of road crashes. Only last weekend, 30 people died on the roads, 19 of them in a single crash involving a minibus taxi (KwaZulu-Natal).
Statistics indicates that approximately 15 000 people per annum die on South African Roads. We cannot afford to allow this grisly state of affairs to continue unabated, hence the request to all the members of this house to support our endeavours. Road safety is the business for all of us.
As part of our effort to intensify road safety campaign educational roadblocks were mounted on the first and 4 October, 465 vehicles were stopped and drivers were provided with information brochures. During the road blocks, 71 notices (tickets) were issued for various infringements ranging from failure to produce a valid
driver’s license to worn out tyres, speaking on a mobile phone whilst driving and failure to wear a safety belt etc.
We also held an inter-denominational church service to plead with the church fraternity to mainstream road safety during sermons. Mr Speaker we are convinced that churches and other faith-based organisation have a profound influence on the behaviour of people. 140 priests, 904 people and journalists from various media houses attended the service.
Learner Licence Project is being piloted at 11 schools in Mangaung and Naledi as part of our programme to ensure that every learner acquire a driver’s licence by the time of completing grade 12.
Law enforecement
Our transport month for 2010 took place hardly few weeks after the Minister of Transport launched the new National Law Enforcement Plan. Central to the New National Law Enforcement Plan is a call by the Minister to stop and screen 1 million vehicles countrywide every month.
In response to this call, the Department of Police, Roads and Transport in the Free State set itself a target of 65 000 vehicles per month. The following table is the synopsis of our achievement during the October month.
Total number of vehicles stopped and screened: 26 815,
Total number of infringement notices issued (tickets): 1 194
Total number of vehicles discontinued/ impounded:
- Buses: 0
- Minibuses: 16
- Other: 24
Number of arrests
- Drunken driving: 11
- Excessive speed: 3
- Reckless and negligent: 0
- Overloading :12
- Taxi/Public Transport Permits: 2
- Drivers’ licence: 5
- False documents: 0
- Other: 10
Highest speed recorded:
- 204 km/h sedan
- 122km/h minibus taxi
Warrants Issued: 12
Details of outcomes of arrests:
Bail/sentence/fine/finalisation
All arrested people are out on bail - Max R3 000 Minimum R2 000
Any other newsworthy information
Six illegal immigrants arrested on N8 East
Access
The Department is actively involved in the monitoring of learner transport in the province. In some areas where
public transport is not available, the Department advocates and promotes the use of non motorised transport (bicycles). This mode of transport is used as an alternative and cheaper mode of transport for rural learners.
On 7 October 2010, the Department handed over 210 bicycles to deserving learners from the disadvantaged schools within the Mantsopa district. This is part of our ongoing programmes to assist learners in the rural areas to access schools.
Road infrastructure development
We officially opened a road that links Bethulie and Springfontein as part of our modest contribution to rural development. Hopefully this road will have far reaching social, cultural and economic spinoffs for the Xhariep District which is economically depressed.
We also showcased Monontsha road construction site. This is one of our Expanded Public Works Projects that is labour intensive. In the process people acquire skills and small contractors are empowered to do road maintenance. Mr Speaker, unfortunately road maintenance has not been given the attention it deserves due
to budgetary constraints and the resultant accelerated road infrastructure deterioration. As from now henceforth, road maintenance is part of our planning process. We have 71 small contractors under Contractor Development Programme within Motheo and Xhariep districts strictly doing routine maintenance of our roads.
Extension of business hours at major testing stations and registering authorities
Mr Speaker, as part of the effort to address the backlogs in the acquisition of drivers’ licences and registration of vehicles, we took a conscious decision to extend business hours by opening Testing Stations and Registering Authorities from 07h00 – 17h00 on Saturdays and 08h00 – 13h00 on Sundays. The following service points opened their doors beginning October: Rouxville, Heilbron, Kroonstad, Welkom, Virginia, Bethlehem, Harrismith, Phuthaditjhaba, Lengau and Botshabelo. Five hundred and thirty-five (535) transactions were executed at a value of R77 625.45. The business is still slack in most service points and requires concerted public awareness campaign.
Taxi and small bus operators empowerment model
In the year 2007, the Department negotiated with Itumele Bus Lines to allocate shares to the taxis and small bus operators from historically disadvantaged sections of our society. They were allocated 16% and 9% shareholding in the IBL Company, respectively. The small bus operators’ shares at the end of financial year 2009/10 were worth R357 000 per share. The small bus operators then bought seven (7) buses, which operate between Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa.
A company called MinaNawe (Pty) Ltd. was formed with the seven buses that were bought from IBL. This company was launched on the 18th of October 2010 at Monontsha Stadium in Phuthaditjhaba. Very soon Mr Speaker, I shall table in this House the final report on the transformation of Maluti Bus Service for consideration and adoption. The transformation and shareholding model has already served before the Executive Council.
Mr Speaker, we will leave no stone unturned in our effort to make our roads safe for all. This will not only be limited to festive seasons and Easter week ends but for 365 days.
Thank you
Dankie
Ke a leboha
Source: Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport
