Get tough on taxi's and other road users during this festive season

[Rea Molopyane]

 

Get tough on taxi's and other road users during this festive season

12 December 2011

 

The South African Transport & Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) is shocked, saddened and angry over the loss of lives in road accidents since the beginning of the holiday season. We hope the national Department of Transport has measures which could reduce the horrific number of fatal accidents on South African roads. SATAWU appeals to the law enforcement to be very strict on overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles. “ The number of fatalities on roads is a national disaster  and a situation we are no longer prepared to tolerate. As the country biggest transport union we call on authorities to get tough with taxi’s including those who are SATAWU members” said  Siyenge Oldjohn National Taxi Sector Coordinator

 

Until a very aggressive approach is taken by authorities towards unroadworthy public vehicles and driver standards, innocent lives will continue to be lost. SATAWU is saying to the National Department of Transport  “ road safety is a growing crisis in this country. It must be given the same urgency and priority as  mining death accidents.  We publicly call on you to establish a national enquiry into taxi accidents on our roads. The Minister can talk about divine intervention until the end of time, what is really needed is decisive action on his part.

 

The message needs to go out loud and clear from all forums: Reckless and irresponsible driving on our roads will not be tolerated. Unless traffic cases are dealt with swiftly and effectively by our judicial system, it serves little or no effect in terms of acting as a deterrent to traffic offenders.

 

SATAWU is still asking what happened to the need for public transporters to have a certificate of road worthiness prior to registration or annual licensing? It doesn't appear to be a criteria anymore. Unroadworthy motor vehicles are all over the country, but more frighteningly, on busy national roads.  Yet, only periodic roadside check points or roadblocks are conducted to check the roadworthiness of vehicles. We have consistently called on the government to retain and introduce adequate measures to ensure that public transport is improved in the national interest. We repeat this call again today.

 

The key factors this holidays are; more visible enforcement of traffic laws and rules, do away with the acceptable alcohol level content because its saying to the public you can drink and still drive and finally deal effectively with those caught driving unroadworthy vehicles.

 

Contact:

Mamokgethi Rea Molopyane

SATAWU National Spokesperson

Cell: 082 395 0907

Landline: 011 333 6127

E-mail: r...@satawu.org.za

Twitter: @Reagoikanya