Illicit activities at vehicle testing stations to be tackled to remove moving coffins from our roads

IT HAS been a very tough week for the families of the horrific bus accident in Tongaat. When I visited the scene of the accident, I was horrified, and I immediately thought about the innocent passengers who were heading to work to fend for their families.

Economically active people who were breadwinners have had their lives destroyed. Families have lost their loved ones, with children becoming orphans.

We are likely to have survivors becoming disabled, which will have a significant impact on the household income and potentially push families into poverty.

We have been informed that road accidents cost the South African economy over R164 billion annually, an equivalent to 3.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

In addition, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) paid out over R45.6 billion in claims in the 2023-2024 financial year.

Once again we express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Equally, we wish those who were injured a speedy recovery.

Apart from our preliminary reports that point to a mechanical failure, we have heard many stories from witnesses, survivors, community leaders, and the people of Tongaat about what they believe was the main cause of the accident.

However, we issued a statement reiterating our commitment to ensuring that a proper investigation is conducted in order to establish the real cause of this accident.

I have mandated our highly efficient team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate to work with the South African Police Service, eThekwini Metro Police, and Road Traffic Management Corporation as part of a broader investigation.

I must hasten to point out that we are inundated with comments and complaints from members of the public informing us about reckless driving, disregard of traffic laws, and the un-roadworthiness of cars involved in the public transport system in Tongaat.

We have agreed, as the department, that we must intensify our road safety campaign, working with Metro Police and other law enforcement agencies.  

We have stated that our road networks should not be playgrounds for irresponsible drivers. We must remove all these elements that are destroying families and costing our country a fortune.

As we move forward, we want to assure the people of Tongaat and the whole province that we remain committed to ensuring a safe transport environment.

Our zero tolerance and no nonsense campaign against owners of bus companies with fraudulent roadworthiness certificates  

In eThekwini and ILembe District in particular, we have had major bus accidents that have destroyed innocent lives.

We have discovered that bus owners knowingly allow drivers without the Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) to transport passengers.

While we all agree that bus drivers must face the full might of the law, bus owners must also be held accountable.

We have had many instances during extensive technical investigations wherein our highly experienced examiners discover serious mechanical faults with buses resembling moving coffins.

Shockingly, we have also picked up fraudulent roadworthiness certificates issued in other provinces without buses being examined physically.

I have mandated my office to set up a meeting with the Vehicle Test Association in order to form a partnership focusing on tackling the problem of the ongoing issue of out-of-province roadworthy transactions.

I agree fully with the association that out-of-province roadworthy transactions undermine the integrity of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) 93 of 1996, including the vehicle testing process.

We will be taking drastic actions to suspend the operating licences of certain bus companies pending the finalization of investigations into the issuing of fraudulent roadworthiness certificates.

Criminal prosecution instituted against the owners of companies in the public transport sector will serve as a deterrent.

We will work with the National Minister of Transport Barbra Creecy and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) to root out this problem.

Road safety plans

We have now introduced personal operating devices to issue traffic infringements, and 800 devices have been issued to traffic officers across the province.

Drinking and driving is another problem we are tackling head-on.

In this regard, 700 digital alcohol screening devices are being issued to all officers to assist with the apprehension of drunk drivers. We want to increase this number.

We apologise to motorists who were inconvenienced during the recovery process along the R102 and other routes.

I announced weeks ago that the department is procuring four smart roadblock buses to enhance fine recovery processes and drones to assist with accident scenes and traffic congestion. I have mandated the Head of the Department to speed up this process.

As we move forward, we plan to roll out the following:

• 1 445multi-disciplinary operations,
• 18 319speed operations,
• 573drunk driving operations,
• stop/inspect more than 1 111 154vehicles,
• as well as weighing more than 161 051vehicles,
• 220pedestrian operations and
• 40vehicle test station compliance inspections.

The above figures are based on the fact that the vehicle population for KwaZulu-Natal has increased to approximately 1.8 million motor vehicles and approximately 2.8 million members of the public.

We serve these members of the public annually on a one-to-one basis at the 76 various Registering Authority Agents situated throughout KwaZulu-Natal, emphasizing the importance of accessible and efficient service delivery.

Siboniso Duma is the KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

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