Date: 18/11/2006
Source: Department of Roads and Transport
Title: Mahlalela: Patrol vehicles launch
Address at the launch of patrol vehicles event by Mr Fish Mahlalela, Mpumalanga MEC for Roads and Transport, Moloto Village
Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Thembisile, Mr VV Nkosi
Executive Mayor of Nkangala District, Mr S Mashilo
Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mr S Khumalo
Ingwenyama Makhosonke Wesibili
Leadership of SANTACO and SABOA
Managing Director of PUTCO, Mr Pisapia
Representatives of Sasol and Engen
Councillors
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
During the month of October, we held our Transport Month Campaign. This campaign has been a springboard for acceleration of the implementation of our Transport Programme of Action. During this month, we were particularly energised by the overwhelming mandate we received from our communities to accelerate the transformation of our transport system. In our province, we had a number of activities from opening of new licensing and registration offices, handing over of bicycles and transport imbizo, whilst nationally; we saw non-roadworthy taxis reduced to scrap metal and the historical renaming of Johannesburg International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport. This is a clear indication that the light we are seeing at the end of the tunnel is indeed not an on-coming train, but a sign of great achievements.
Indeed, a seed has been planted for better things to come, and all our endeavours are pointing to a safe, reliable, seamless and affordable transport system. The milestones we have achieved and the role we’ve played as the Department of Roads and Transport is there for all to see. The event today is but one of many, that ensures that our legacy is also experienced not only by ourselves but also by our communities who are receiving this vehicles today.
It is therefore a great pleasure to be among the people of Nkangala today, particularly the community of Thembisile. Uma singuhulumeni sikhuluma ngokuphepha emgwaqeni kodwa singakezi emphakathini ofana nowenu sisuke singakenzi lutho. Kuya’sthokozisa ukuba lapha kwethu namhlanje, ngoba ngalezimonto esizithulayo namhlanje sizokuthi, “Phansi Ngezingozi Zomgwaqo Emloto Phansi”, “Phansi Ngabashayeli Bomkokotelo Phansi”, Phansi Ngezikorokoro Phansi”.
Programme Director, it is our responsibility as government to ensure that our communities have safe and reliable transport system. If we turn a blind eye on such an essential matter our economy will grind to a halt. In this regard, the department has put in place a Road Safety Strategy to ensure that we achieve the Millennium Development Goal, which is to halve road fatalities by 2014.
The department has invested more than R5 million in this project and this high level of investment is a clear demonstration of government commitment to our law enforcement initiatives, both as part of a developmental state intervention to ensuring safety on our roads, stimulating economic growth, and restoring public confidence in our transport system. It is also a direct response to the overwhelming mandate given to our government at the last General elections where our people amongst others, mandated our department to provide safe, affordable and accessible public transport infrastructure.
In the context of our Sivuth’ Umlilo, our law enforcement officers will in using these vehicles, among others carry out mini-road blocks exercises daily to identify:
* illegal vehicles and drivers
* unroadworthy vehicles
* non-compliance to seatbelt laws
* drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and
* put more stringent punishments for those who contravene the law
Distinguished guests, apart from the above activities and in the context of our Taxi Recapitalisation Project, we will continue and intensify our law enforcement initiatives focused particularly on public transport in the following areas:
* unroadworthy vehicles
* operators deviating from prescribed routes;
* operators operating contrary to the conditions of their permits/operating licenses
* taxi piracy and
* operators/drivers and members found in possession of stolen and suspicious stolen vehicles
We are convinced that all these initiatives will propel passenger transport, in particular taxis, to gain its rightful place as a mass-mover of our people. Our underlying assumption is to guarantee safety and security for commuters within the broader context of the public transport system.
We, however, can never be alone in all these endeavours. We are forging strong partnerships with private sector and civil society to promote safety on our roads. I’m pleased to announce that today we are joined by PUTCO, which has contributed five vehicles towards increasing visibility of traffic law enforcement and also Sasol who have contributed an amount of R250 000-00 towards placing of billboards. I would like to call upon the representatives of both PUTCO and Sasol to stand for a round of applause. As government we are encouraged by your contribution and would like to appeal and encourage other companies to follow this example. Keep up good work.
As we officially launch this initiative, we also strongly condemn the practice of the throwing of stones and burning of buses. No amount of frustration and anger could justify such behaviour and destruction of property. We are therefore confident that our police will ensure that those responsible are brought to book and are made to pay for their crimes. We also hope that this initiative will ignite the spark of confidence among communities largely towards our law enforcement officers and will translate into increased law-abiding citizenship.
In conclusion, we all know that our people continue to lose their lives on this road with a substantial number of pedestrians. We all have a responsibility of changing this culture and raise the level of consciousness of our people on road safety. This responsibility should be a shared responsibility; we cannot do it alone as government, all of us must act together and advocate the importance tolerance, love, peace, compassion and mutual respect as we use our roads.
Viva Sivuth’ Umlilo Campaign Viva!
Viva Arrive Alive Viva!
Ngiyabonga.
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport,
Mpumalanga Provincial Government
18 November 2006
Source: Department of Roads and Transport
Title: Mahlalela: Patrol vehicles launch
Address at the launch of patrol vehicles event by Mr Fish Mahlalela, Mpumalanga MEC for Roads and Transport, Moloto Village
Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Thembisile, Mr VV Nkosi
Executive Mayor of Nkangala District, Mr S Mashilo
Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mr S Khumalo
Ingwenyama Makhosonke Wesibili
Leadership of SANTACO and SABOA
Managing Director of PUTCO, Mr Pisapia
Representatives of Sasol and Engen
Councillors
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
During the month of October, we held our Transport Month Campaign. This campaign has been a springboard for acceleration of the implementation of our Transport Programme of Action. During this month, we were particularly energised by the overwhelming mandate we received from our communities to accelerate the transformation of our transport system. In our province, we had a number of activities from opening of new licensing and registration offices, handing over of bicycles and transport imbizo, whilst nationally; we saw non-roadworthy taxis reduced to scrap metal and the historical renaming of Johannesburg International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport. This is a clear indication that the light we are seeing at the end of the tunnel is indeed not an on-coming train, but a sign of great achievements.
Indeed, a seed has been planted for better things to come, and all our endeavours are pointing to a safe, reliable, seamless and affordable transport system. The milestones we have achieved and the role we’ve played as the Department of Roads and Transport is there for all to see. The event today is but one of many, that ensures that our legacy is also experienced not only by ourselves but also by our communities who are receiving this vehicles today.
It is therefore a great pleasure to be among the people of Nkangala today, particularly the community of Thembisile. Uma singuhulumeni sikhuluma ngokuphepha emgwaqeni kodwa singakezi emphakathini ofana nowenu sisuke singakenzi lutho. Kuya’sthokozisa ukuba lapha kwethu namhlanje, ngoba ngalezimonto esizithulayo namhlanje sizokuthi, “Phansi Ngezingozi Zomgwaqo Emloto Phansi”, “Phansi Ngabashayeli Bomkokotelo Phansi”, Phansi Ngezikorokoro Phansi”.
Programme Director, it is our responsibility as government to ensure that our communities have safe and reliable transport system. If we turn a blind eye on such an essential matter our economy will grind to a halt. In this regard, the department has put in place a Road Safety Strategy to ensure that we achieve the Millennium Development Goal, which is to halve road fatalities by 2014.
The department has invested more than R5 million in this project and this high level of investment is a clear demonstration of government commitment to our law enforcement initiatives, both as part of a developmental state intervention to ensuring safety on our roads, stimulating economic growth, and restoring public confidence in our transport system. It is also a direct response to the overwhelming mandate given to our government at the last General elections where our people amongst others, mandated our department to provide safe, affordable and accessible public transport infrastructure.
In the context of our Sivuth’ Umlilo, our law enforcement officers will in using these vehicles, among others carry out mini-road blocks exercises daily to identify:
* illegal vehicles and drivers
* unroadworthy vehicles
* non-compliance to seatbelt laws
* drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and
* put more stringent punishments for those who contravene the law
Distinguished guests, apart from the above activities and in the context of our Taxi Recapitalisation Project, we will continue and intensify our law enforcement initiatives focused particularly on public transport in the following areas:
* unroadworthy vehicles
* operators deviating from prescribed routes;
* operators operating contrary to the conditions of their permits/operating licenses
* taxi piracy and
* operators/drivers and members found in possession of stolen and suspicious stolen vehicles
We are convinced that all these initiatives will propel passenger transport, in particular taxis, to gain its rightful place as a mass-mover of our people. Our underlying assumption is to guarantee safety and security for commuters within the broader context of the public transport system.
We, however, can never be alone in all these endeavours. We are forging strong partnerships with private sector and civil society to promote safety on our roads. I’m pleased to announce that today we are joined by PUTCO, which has contributed five vehicles towards increasing visibility of traffic law enforcement and also Sasol who have contributed an amount of R250 000-00 towards placing of billboards. I would like to call upon the representatives of both PUTCO and Sasol to stand for a round of applause. As government we are encouraged by your contribution and would like to appeal and encourage other companies to follow this example. Keep up good work.
As we officially launch this initiative, we also strongly condemn the practice of the throwing of stones and burning of buses. No amount of frustration and anger could justify such behaviour and destruction of property. We are therefore confident that our police will ensure that those responsible are brought to book and are made to pay for their crimes. We also hope that this initiative will ignite the spark of confidence among communities largely towards our law enforcement officers and will translate into increased law-abiding citizenship.
In conclusion, we all know that our people continue to lose their lives on this road with a substantial number of pedestrians. We all have a responsibility of changing this culture and raise the level of consciousness of our people on road safety. This responsibility should be a shared responsibility; we cannot do it alone as government, all of us must act together and advocate the importance tolerance, love, peace, compassion and mutual respect as we use our roads.
Viva Sivuth’ Umlilo Campaign Viva!
Viva Arrive Alive Viva!
Ngiyabonga.
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport,
Mpumalanga Provincial Government
18 November 2006
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