2017 OCTOBER TRANSPORT MONTH ACTIVITIES FORMALLY LAUNCHED - KICKS INTO FULL BLOWN OTM CAMPAIGN HYPE; SAYS MEC MOTLHABANE

The Department of Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Dr Mpho Motlhabane successfully launched the 2017 Annual October transport month (OTM) on Friday the 13 October 2017 at the Mmabatho stadium parking lot with a hype of activities to mark the big day and set the tone already for the eminent Festive Season Operations.

The MEC together with the Head of the Department (HOD) invited all departmental stakeholders relevant to the launch program; Municipal Disaster and Traffic Units, RTMC, RAF, SAPS, Taxi Councils, Bus Operators Association, SANWIT, Pastors from different ministries and Faith Based Organisations who joined the MEC for the early morning prayer sessions in all four major road entrances to Mahikeng in a quest to cleanse and call upon divine intervention from the Almighty.

Different accident prone hotspots identified were along the N18 Ramatlabama roads near Military Village; R49 Zeerust road, near the hairpin band bridge, the N18 Vryburg road near Makhubung Village as well as along the R503 road, near the newly build Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital.

The 2017 Provincial October Transport Month campaign is an annual feature on the calendar of events and activities within the National Department of Transport. It was first officially launched back in 2005 to raise awareness about the importance of transport in the economy. OTM is used as an interactive platform where department engages with the communities, motorist, road users, stakeholders closely and efficiently. It raises Road Safety awareness and benefit of public and freight transport in the economy and society at large.

The Road Cleansing ceremony was followed by a Show of Force motorcade which started at R503 near the newly built Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, then proceeded through Nelson Mandela drive in passing; Daville, Mahikeng, Signal Hill, turning onto Albert Luthuli and Dr James Moroka Drive. The convoy was greeted by a Guard of Honour parade manned by 2017 Traffic graduates and Aviation Students cadet march towards Mmabatho Stadium Parking where the main event was held.

The main purpose around this activity is to raise awareness and encourage the use of public transport as well as promote road safety. Through such an activity and especially the invitation extended to many stakeholders, it is expected that it will serve a purpose for closing of a social distance and mistrust between law enforcement agencies, civil society and business at large.

During his address to the crowd that graced the event, the MEC emphasised that safety on our roads should be a collective effort by all citizen of Bokone Bophirima province. “It comes as no surprise that we see so many fatalities on our roads because so many people drive while they are intoxicated. The use of cell phones while driving is rife. There is a high volume of motor Vehicles that are not road worthy. People exceed speed limits. There is a general disregard for traffic rules and regulations. And people who are not licensed to drive motor vehicles are found behind the steering wheels”, he said.

He further announced that one of the remedies the Department of Transport has put forward is increasing the number of law enforcement personnel on our roads by 15% and that the traffic cops will soon be working on 24/bases shift to increase visibility on our roads.

The MEC further encouraged law enforcement officers to arrest without fear or favour those who do not comply with the law. “In order to reduce the road accident in general and accident fatalities in general. We need to adopt a good driver behaviour by respecting oneself and respecting fellow road users as we share the road. At all times remember that SPEED KILLS, DRINKING AND DRIVING KILLS AND DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE KILLS” concluded MEC Motlhabane.

Please note this Key MEC 2017 OTM Message

If the transport sector fails then the whole economic network and system collapses. Goods and services will no longer be moved from one place to another. And people cannot get to their places of work either. production and processing of produce and products stagnates. The role of transport is to stimulate and put mobility in all economic activities as a way of contributing effectively to our economic growth of the country. Our fundamental task as a transport department is to improve access to economic opportunities. Transport helps to close the social spaces. As well as improves delivery of services. this way, the geographic distances will be reduced. We need to provide affordably, reliably and safe transportation at all material times. If we are to reposition this province as an economic hub of the country, we must all acknowledge too that there are established economic centres throughout Bokone Bophirima province. By the way, Vryburg is still known as the Texas of South Africa due to its beef production and exportation. Mogwase remains a Tourism hub due to the hospitality industry such as Suncity hotel, Pilanesburg and other resorts and tourists attractions. The Maize triangle starts in North West, runs through Frees State and Mpumalanga where most grains is produced; like maize and barley to say the least. Orkney and Stilfontein are known for its gold whereas Rustenburg and Brits are imbued with a lot of Platinum. Our villages too; Kraaipan and Lotlhakane have opened mines and Taung is to follow soon. So;

If the Millennium goal is to be achieved our contribution is also necessary Let's do something about the railway infrastructure in order to increase the transport network that are lying fallow without being used. The passenger train from Jo'burg via Mahikeng to Kimberly and Botswana must be reopened. Our roads are full of trucks. Our airports are basically used for passengers in the main. We are unable to tap on the maritime economy embedded in our many rivers and dams like Taung and Hartebeesspoort Dams. These are currently only used for leisure and recreational purposes. Let me, however, also express some kind of pride about us as Bokone Bophirima. If this VTSD initiative was championed 30 years ago, SAB would not be in Johannesburg but in Taung were it ploughs its barley and transport it to Gauteng to be processed into beer in established industry. Equally AngloGold would be somewhere in Klerksdorp where the gold and the mines are. AngloPlat will be in Moruleng, where Platinum is harvested in tons. Ritebrand and Bullbrand that packages beef will be somewhere between Huhudi and Ganyesa, not in Gauteng, where beef is farmed. Note the following 2017 October Transport Months: Events Schedule+



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