2010-11-01: October Transport Month Programme
DURING the month of the October the City of Joburg conducted an extensive Transport Month Programme focusing on building partnerships to improve road safety, to protect roads and storm water infrastructure and improve public transport. “Hosted under the banner of ‘Moving Joburg to do more together’, we were successfully able to move across the City to build partnerships and raise awareness about transport issues,” said Rehana Moosajee, MMC for Transport in the City of Joburg.
Activities conducted included Community Leader Seminars in the seven Joburg regions, road safety ,and intersection awareness exercises with secondary and primary school children, a road safety cavalcade in partnership with organisations representing people with disabilities, Batho Pele seminars for bus and taxi drivers and a clean up of the Midrand Taxi Rank.
“Through the promotion of our transport values of accountability, co-operation, respect, honesty and ubuntu, we were able to demonstrate that individuals and communities can play a role in ensuring road safety, not damaging our road infrastructure and improving public transport without lots of resources”, she said.
“It was particularly sad to see the continued loss of life on our roads, even as we were undertaking these initiatives. On 18 October 2010, we were in Alexandra – a few days later Mpho Ngwenya a 16 old Alexandra learner was dead – in an incident that indicated why we all need to recommit to the transport values, “ emphasised MMC Moosajee.
The ways in which this can happen can be big and small from wearing safety belts, not speaking on the cell phone while driving, respecting scholar patrols outside of schools, not allowing unlicensed drivers behind a wheel and not littering in taxi ranks.
“Wherever we went the eagerness of our community leaders to improve transport was there,” Moosajee added.
The Community Leader Seminars were characterised by high levels of participation and enthusiasm, as well as a spirit of community action for positive results. Some of the themes that emerged across the City included:
Protecting and taking responsibility for our infrastructure’
Not washing cars and taxis in the streets, erecting tents on road infrastructure or throwing litter in storm water channels and drains. This all contributes to damaging our roads and storm water systems and can lead to flooding’
Educating our communities about the dangers of poor driver behaviour and how to care for community assets such as roads and public transport shelters.
Importance of by- law enforcement on issues such as illegal dumping’
The problems of theft of manhole covers and the need to take decisive action against scrap yard dealers who accept these covers’
The importance of the community reporting problems to the authorities and the importance of government to be responsive in addressing these problems; and
The importance of quality workmanship and quality assurance in the construction and repair of roads, potholes, etc.
The way in which the Community Leader’s Seminars were conducted meant that everybody could contribute and learn from each other. Taxi drivers urged their passengers not to insist on being picked up and dropped anywhere, often forcing taxi drivers to disobey the rules of the road.
On the other hand, passengers urged bus and taxi drives to be polite, use their known routes and drive their vehicles with care. Taxi associations committed to discipline their member who did not follow the rules of the road or respected passengers.
In some Community Leader’s Seminars, participants left the seminar venue to engage community members on road safety issues such as visiting ranks and talking to taxi drivers.
The road safety cavalcade attended by people who had been injured through road accidents highlighted the importance of caring for people with disabilities and respecting their rights.
October Month had a strong awareness raising and educational focus. The Batho Pele seminar broughtBatho Pele and Metrobus bus drivers together with taxi drivers to train them in “customer care” while the industrial theatre aimed at high school learners focused on the behaviour of teenagers which can contribute to road accidents.
“I would like to thank all who participated in Transport Month, in demonstrating what the power of partnerships and commitment to transport values can do,” concluded MMC Moosajee.
Issued by: City of Johannesburg
Enquiries: Nthatisi Modingoane, DD Communications, City of Johannesburg 082 467 9228