Date: 03/12/2003
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: Omar: Statement on International Day of Disabled Persons
MEDIA STATEMENT FROM TRANSPORT MINISTER, DULLAH OMAR ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS, 3 DECEMBER 2003
3 December 2003: The national Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar, today on International Day of Disabled Persons called upon the transport sector to ensure that their facilities and vehicles are designed with the interest of disabled people taken into consideration.
The Minister said in line with various legislatives and policy instruments; government has made enormous steps with the transport sector, to ensure that the rights of people with disability are recognised within the public transport system.
He said the National Land Transport Transition Act, No. 22 of 2000, has stipulated various policy principles with regard to the determination, development and application of measures in integrating accessible transport into the public transport system.
Omar added that many municipalities are in the forefront of transforming the current public transport system into an inclusive one. This includes accessible busses and dedicated private operations commonly known as Dial-A-Ride.
"An extensive consultation process with the stakeholders on finalising the development of the short-term Accessible Transport Strategy and adoption of the Implementation Plan has been completed together with the development of accessible plans for the provision and upgrading of infrastructure, services and operations" Minister Omar said.
Minister Omar said on railway services, practical implementations have been seen on station upgrades in Lentegeur and Mendley in Western Cape. An approved accessibility plan to extend the commuter line in Khayelitsha to the tune of R140 million is in place.
Various stations have been upgraded to meet the requirements of passengers with mobility needs in areas such as Mabopane station (which required a budget of R15 million) and Inanda-Ntuzuma-kwaMashu upgrading works. Completed constructions at Mutual, Ysterplaat, Woodstock, Ikhwezini, Stretford, Denneboon, Tembisa, Oakmore and Park City stations were partial improved in Western Cape and Gauteng provinces respectively were done. Ramps and escalators have been installed as well as removing the centre poles to allow for easy movement in certain coaches. All these were done in partnership with municipalities and Intersite (i.e. a construction arm of South African Rail Commuter Corporation).
With regard to intermodal facilities a tender on geometric standards to access vehicles and facilities around the taxi ranks has been advertised and once the planning phase has been completed all taxi facilities will be upgraded and constructed according to these standards. These services will be properly aligned with other modes to promote easy travel along the travel chain.
Within the bus industry the department has published a model tender document that, once approved, will govern all public transport negotiated contracts to provide for accessible improvements on busses. Provinces will be spearheading and facilitating the provision of these measures in their contracts.
Through the negotiation process with the taxi industries, a new fleet of 18 and 35-seaters will come up with modifications that will accommodate both wheel-chair users and non-wheel chair users, in particular, they will make provision for sensory and physically impaired passengers. Further developments are anticipated to make the whole public transport fully accessible over the long term.
"Through these small contributions the Department together with its partners and the country as a whole strives towards the promotion of a user-friendly public transport system which is universally accessible for all public transport users" Minister Omar.
Enquiries: Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Media Liaison Officer
Ministry of Transport
Cell: 082 908 0054
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
3 December 2003
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: Omar: Statement on International Day of Disabled Persons
MEDIA STATEMENT FROM TRANSPORT MINISTER, DULLAH OMAR ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS, 3 DECEMBER 2003
3 December 2003: The national Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar, today on International Day of Disabled Persons called upon the transport sector to ensure that their facilities and vehicles are designed with the interest of disabled people taken into consideration.
The Minister said in line with various legislatives and policy instruments; government has made enormous steps with the transport sector, to ensure that the rights of people with disability are recognised within the public transport system.
He said the National Land Transport Transition Act, No. 22 of 2000, has stipulated various policy principles with regard to the determination, development and application of measures in integrating accessible transport into the public transport system.
Omar added that many municipalities are in the forefront of transforming the current public transport system into an inclusive one. This includes accessible busses and dedicated private operations commonly known as Dial-A-Ride.
"An extensive consultation process with the stakeholders on finalising the development of the short-term Accessible Transport Strategy and adoption of the Implementation Plan has been completed together with the development of accessible plans for the provision and upgrading of infrastructure, services and operations" Minister Omar said.
Minister Omar said on railway services, practical implementations have been seen on station upgrades in Lentegeur and Mendley in Western Cape. An approved accessibility plan to extend the commuter line in Khayelitsha to the tune of R140 million is in place.
Various stations have been upgraded to meet the requirements of passengers with mobility needs in areas such as Mabopane station (which required a budget of R15 million) and Inanda-Ntuzuma-kwaMashu upgrading works. Completed constructions at Mutual, Ysterplaat, Woodstock, Ikhwezini, Stretford, Denneboon, Tembisa, Oakmore and Park City stations were partial improved in Western Cape and Gauteng provinces respectively were done. Ramps and escalators have been installed as well as removing the centre poles to allow for easy movement in certain coaches. All these were done in partnership with municipalities and Intersite (i.e. a construction arm of South African Rail Commuter Corporation).
With regard to intermodal facilities a tender on geometric standards to access vehicles and facilities around the taxi ranks has been advertised and once the planning phase has been completed all taxi facilities will be upgraded and constructed according to these standards. These services will be properly aligned with other modes to promote easy travel along the travel chain.
Within the bus industry the department has published a model tender document that, once approved, will govern all public transport negotiated contracts to provide for accessible improvements on busses. Provinces will be spearheading and facilitating the provision of these measures in their contracts.
Through the negotiation process with the taxi industries, a new fleet of 18 and 35-seaters will come up with modifications that will accommodate both wheel-chair users and non-wheel chair users, in particular, they will make provision for sensory and physically impaired passengers. Further developments are anticipated to make the whole public transport fully accessible over the long term.
"Through these small contributions the Department together with its partners and the country as a whole strives towards the promotion of a user-friendly public transport system which is universally accessible for all public transport users" Minister Omar.
Enquiries: Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Media Liaison Officer
Ministry of Transport
Cell: 082 908 0054
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
3 December 2003
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