B Cele: Memorial service in Vryheid

2 April 2009

Protocol observed

* Our government is working tirelessly to ensure that South Africa becomes a
safe and a better place for all. We ensure that infrastructure design should is
user friendly to avoid accidents. But despite our commitment to safety of our
people, we continue to lose people on our roads.

* It is on that score that we say every one of us should take responsibility
for our actions on the road. Accidents are avoidable if only each person values
their lives seriously.

* As drivers we need to be responsible especially when in charge of other
human lives. As passengers we need to be very aware of safe and legal travel,
and not make ourselves vulnerable to abuse.

* Research has shown that a very high percentage of accidents are preceded
by a road traffic violation, the human error, which makes the improvement of
road-user perceptions, attitudes and behaviour a matter of urgency. The
estimated cost of the impact of deaths and injuries sustained as a result of
road accidents is now R56 billion per annum.

* As we head towards the Easter holidays the department in conjunction with
religious leaders from various faiths will be ensuring that the road safety
message goes right down to grassroots level. We cannot afford to lose even one
life on our roads.

* On Tuesday we launched our Easter Road Safety Campaign for 2009 where we
outlined how we, as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport (KZNDoT) has
planned to ensure your safety on our roads during the coming weeks.

* During this Easter, enforcement and patrols will be conducted in the
province focusing on the following critical offences:
* Pedestrian safety
* Drunk and driving
* Public passenger transport and LDVs (bakkies)
* Unsafe overtaking
* Vehicle without number plates

* This department has had several exciting developments such as the
reduction in alcohol levels for drivers from 0,08 gram per 100 millilitres of
blood to 0,05 gram per 100 millilitres and 0,02 gram for professional
drivers.

* On Tuesday we launched our Automotive Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
This technology can read the number plate of vehicles stationary or moving and
instantly tell us about any outstanding businesses e.g. unroadworthy vehicles,
unlicensed vehicles etc.

* We would like to pass condolences to the families of the following:

Name: Nokwazi Mthembu
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Residence: Kwangwelu near Nongoma
Occupation: Professional Nurse

Name: Dumisani Mthethwa
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Residence: Mvuyane
Occupation: Worked in Johannesburg

Name: Wiseman Nkosi
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Residence: Mondlo
Occupation: Unemployed

Name: Thulisiwe Mthethwa
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Residence: Paulpietersburg
Occupation: Worked in Johannesburg

Name: Nhlakanipho Khoza
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Residence: Lakeside
Occupation: Nurse

Name: Justice Mncube
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Residence: Mvuyane
Occupation: Worked in Johannesburg

Name: Mlungisi Nyandeni
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Residence: East Mine
Occupation: Taxi Driver

Name: Linda Zondo
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Residence: Nondweni
Occupation: Casual worker in Midrand

Name: Zakhele Zondo
Age: Male
Gender: 42
Residence: Mondlo
Occupation: Self employed

Name: Absalom Mnyandu
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Residence: Kwangenetsheni Nongoma
Occupation: Pensioner

Name: Simon Mkhize
Age: Not yet known
Gender: Male
Residence: The body was collected by his brother from Mamelodi to be buried in
Swaziland
Occupation: Unknown

* You can see how these accidents kill our people who are economically
active. People who drive their cars or travel in public transport are mostly
working and have dependants. Another thing is that the impact of fatalities is
seen on people left behind.

* Finally, we always say that as government we do everything possible to
assist the families in whatever way we can during these difficult moments. Let
us all obey the rules of the road. Live and let live!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
2 April 2009
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kzntransport.gov.za)