Minister Dullah Omar met with the Minister of Transport of Great Britain, Minister Keith Hill, in Kuala Lumpur today, to discuss the recent bus tragedies in South Africa. Both Ministers are leading their respective delegations to the 21st World Road Congress which is being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Minister Abdullah Omar briefed his British counterpart on the measures that have been taken by the government with respect to the bus accidents and to make South Africa's roads safer, in general and the government's active response to the Lydenburg bus tragedy, in particular.
The Transport Minister of Britain was also briefed on the recent summit that the South African Ministry of Transport had with the public transport operators, law enforcement agencies and the respective provincial government departments; wherein it was decided that the speed limit of public transport vehicles should be reduced from the current 120km/h to 100km/h. The summit, which was held on 30 September 1999, also agreed that regular roadworthy tests for all public transportation vehicles should be conducted.
In response, Minister Keith Hill, stated that he was satisfied with measures taken by the South African government and was awaiting the results of the enquiry that has been tasked to investigate the Lydenburg bus disaster.
The British Minister of Transport also indicated that Britain would look into ways of supporting the measures that have been taken by the South African Department of Transport aimed at increasing road safety in the country. Both Ministers agreed to hold continuous discussions and increase interaction on mutual issues of mutual interest regarding transport.
South Africa will host the next World Road Congress in October 2003 in Durban.
Minister Omar will return to South Africa on 6 October 1999.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION IN KUALA LUMPUR ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
5 OCTOBER 1999
Pretoria