Minister drives Easter safety campaign

THE mayor of Mkhondo Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, Ngelosi Ndhlovu, has called on the transport minister to help her municipality deal with the scourge of potholes in the area.

Speaking during the launch of this year’s Easter holiday safety campaign in the area, the mayor said her municipality needed help to repair decaying roads and infrastructure to avoid road fatalities.

“We aim to combat the road carnage with the same vigour and determination that the people of South Africa displayed when they faced apartheid. We have a new struggle now. We have children at home getting knocked down by speeding vehicles as they go to school.

“Parents must teach their children traffic safety. We also have a problem with people walking and driving while drunk,” she said.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation has indicated that traffic volumes were expected to pick up as early as next Thursday morning, and would stay high until midnight.

On Friday, traffic volumes would start increasing early in the morning and return to normal after 2pm.

Addressing the issue of potholes and bad roads, Ndhlovu warned travellers to avoid certain roads.

“We plead with the minister. Please help us with Operation Vala Zonke here in Mkhondo because roads are riddled with potholes. We want Operation Vala Zonke to deal with the roads affected by floods,” Ndhlovu said.

Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga has called on motorists to adhere to safety regulations and avoid drunk driving this Easter holiday season.

On Wednesday, the minister was in the company of Mpumalanga provincial leaders, including Public Works, Roads and Transport MEC Mandla Ndlovu and Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe, and representatives from the transport industries, including taxi and truck associations.

This year’s Road Safety Awareness Campaign was launched at Mkhondo Stadium under the theme, Fika Usaphila (Arrive Alive).

Chikunga warned motorists who did not obey traffic rules that they faced imprisonment.

She also warned that those who obtained their licences fraudulently would be arrested.

“We cannot tolerate individuals who are drunk (and driving), nor can we accept young people walking around with bottles of alcohol,” she said.

Chikunga said the increase in fatalities was due to the increase in motorists.

“While South Africa did not have many cars in the past, the country has reported an increase every year.

“We now have at least 13 million motor vehicles in South Africa, with no fewer than 12 million drivers,” she said.

The minister said her department had set target of reducing road fatalities by 15% over this period following last year’s increase in the road carnage.

“A total of 252 fatalities were recorded, representing a 37% increase compared to the same period the previous reporting period.

“Every province has been given a target based on the number of fatalities experienced last year. The province of Mpumalanga must reduce the fatalities from 20 to 17, Limpopo from 43 to 37, Kwazulu-natal from 64 to 54, Gauteng from 47 to 40, the Eastern Cape from 41 to 35, the Free State from 21 to 18, the Western Cape from 28 to 24, North West from 10 to nine, and the Northern Cape from four to three,” Chikunga said.

The department, working with stakeholders, announced the deployment of law enforcement agencies on key routes in provinces such as Kwazulu-natal, the Free State, the Western Cape, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape would be prioritised to curb the number of fatalities.