Date: 27/02/2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Mosunkutu: Briefing on measures to ensure compliance to card licence requirement
STATEMENT BY GAUTENG PUBLIC TRANSPORT, ROADS AND WORKS MEC KHABISI MOSUNKUTU ON MEASURES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW CREDIT CARD-TYPE DRIVERS' LICENCE
This briefing has not been called to announce a shift or an extension of the deadline set for the recognition and usage of the new credit-card type drivers' licence.
Calls for such an extension of the deadline of the 28th of February 2003 militate against our Government's deliberate and conscious moves to curb proliferation of unqualified drivers on our roads. Such a step, similar to a call for leniency on vehicles that are not roadworthy, could suggest tolerance of the unacceptable rate of carnage on our roads.
Clearly, the presence of unqualified drivers on our roads and the continued usage of vehicles that are terrible excuses for death traps cannot be stomached any moment longer. Failure to ensure compliance with the new drivers license requirement would also suggest that the 73.92% of motorists who have already converted their drivers' licenses in Gauteng were unwise in their decision to respect and honour the new regulations. We hail all these drivers who have accommodated and aligned themselves with the move towards a more tamper proof drivers license. Their decisions to comply will, we are convinced, contribute incalculably towards curbing carnage on our roads.
In respect of the Government's policy of creating a caring Government for a caring society, I am pleased to announce that our licensing stations in Gauteng will be opened from 06:00 till 12 midnight of the 28th of February 2003 to process applications of the latecomers. Beyond this date those who have not yet converted, will have to re-apply for both learner and driver licenses.
In recognition of the directives given by the Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, in his address at the opening of the legislature that ' together with all road users we need to pay more attention to road safety. We need to continuously mount roadblocks and to check drivers' licenses, the roadworthiness of vehicles, overloading and drunk drivers' I am pleased to report measures that are going to be implemented in pursuance of this directive. Starting from the 1st March 2003, our law enforcement officers are going to move against those drivers, less than 400 00 in Gauteng, who, for five years, decided to ignore the Government's call to convert to the new credit-card format drivers licence.
We shall now begin with our enforcement programme. This programme will entail, among others:
* Law enforcement officers will conduct, as high priority, an Operation Drivers Licence, The focus of this operation, which will begin on the 1st of March 2003, will be valid drivers licences and driver fitness
* Roadblocks on main entrances to the cities, on the on and off ramps of the national routes
* Similar roadblocks will be conducted on targeted provincial routes
* Joint roadblocks at regional level will also be launched. These will be manned by our provincial, metro and district law enforcement officers, South African Police Service and Metro police.
I therefore wish to take this opportunity to call on all those who still drive on the basis of any drivers licence document other than the credit-card format drivers licence not to risk driving on our roads. Our law enforcement officers have been instructed not to show mercy to those who have, for five years, ignored Government on this matter.
We consider safety on our roads as of paramount importance. We also consider fraudulently acquired licences and the perpetrators of such corruption as threats that must be combated.
I wish to commend members of our staff who are manning the various licensing offices for their sterling work under such tremendous pressure. I call on them to persevere and continue providing this essential service in the best tradition of putting our People First - Batho Pele
For more information contact: Sizwe Matshikiza on (011) 355 7553 / 082 778 9996
Issued by Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works, Gauteng
27 February 2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Mosunkutu: Briefing on measures to ensure compliance to card licence requirement
STATEMENT BY GAUTENG PUBLIC TRANSPORT, ROADS AND WORKS MEC KHABISI MOSUNKUTU ON MEASURES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW CREDIT CARD-TYPE DRIVERS' LICENCE
This briefing has not been called to announce a shift or an extension of the deadline set for the recognition and usage of the new credit-card type drivers' licence.
Calls for such an extension of the deadline of the 28th of February 2003 militate against our Government's deliberate and conscious moves to curb proliferation of unqualified drivers on our roads. Such a step, similar to a call for leniency on vehicles that are not roadworthy, could suggest tolerance of the unacceptable rate of carnage on our roads.
Clearly, the presence of unqualified drivers on our roads and the continued usage of vehicles that are terrible excuses for death traps cannot be stomached any moment longer. Failure to ensure compliance with the new drivers license requirement would also suggest that the 73.92% of motorists who have already converted their drivers' licenses in Gauteng were unwise in their decision to respect and honour the new regulations. We hail all these drivers who have accommodated and aligned themselves with the move towards a more tamper proof drivers license. Their decisions to comply will, we are convinced, contribute incalculably towards curbing carnage on our roads.
In respect of the Government's policy of creating a caring Government for a caring society, I am pleased to announce that our licensing stations in Gauteng will be opened from 06:00 till 12 midnight of the 28th of February 2003 to process applications of the latecomers. Beyond this date those who have not yet converted, will have to re-apply for both learner and driver licenses.
In recognition of the directives given by the Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, in his address at the opening of the legislature that ' together with all road users we need to pay more attention to road safety. We need to continuously mount roadblocks and to check drivers' licenses, the roadworthiness of vehicles, overloading and drunk drivers' I am pleased to report measures that are going to be implemented in pursuance of this directive. Starting from the 1st March 2003, our law enforcement officers are going to move against those drivers, less than 400 00 in Gauteng, who, for five years, decided to ignore the Government's call to convert to the new credit-card format drivers licence.
We shall now begin with our enforcement programme. This programme will entail, among others:
* Law enforcement officers will conduct, as high priority, an Operation Drivers Licence, The focus of this operation, which will begin on the 1st of March 2003, will be valid drivers licences and driver fitness
* Roadblocks on main entrances to the cities, on the on and off ramps of the national routes
* Similar roadblocks will be conducted on targeted provincial routes
* Joint roadblocks at regional level will also be launched. These will be manned by our provincial, metro and district law enforcement officers, South African Police Service and Metro police.
I therefore wish to take this opportunity to call on all those who still drive on the basis of any drivers licence document other than the credit-card format drivers licence not to risk driving on our roads. Our law enforcement officers have been instructed not to show mercy to those who have, for five years, ignored Government on this matter.
We consider safety on our roads as of paramount importance. We also consider fraudulently acquired licences and the perpetrators of such corruption as threats that must be combated.
I wish to commend members of our staff who are manning the various licensing offices for their sterling work under such tremendous pressure. I call on them to persevere and continue providing this essential service in the best tradition of putting our People First - Batho Pele
For more information contact: Sizwe Matshikiza on (011) 355 7553 / 082 778 9996
Issued by Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works, Gauteng
27 February 2003
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
