Chairperson, transport is the lifeblood of our country, our people and our economy. If and when we fail to transport either goods, services or people, our world as we know it will come to a complete standstill. It is not only imperative to be able to move but such movement needs to happen timeously and with the highest focus on place and safety.
The majority of our people make use of the minibus-taxi industry to get from point A to point B. An estimated 60% of South African commuters are served by the taxi industry, which accounts for more than 14 million people per day. Notwithstanding this fact, we still saw an 4,1% increase in taxi fatalities, at 1 016 for the last 12 months ending March 2011, compared to the previous 12 months. One would have been forgiven for thinking that safety would be a top priority for such an important role-player in society. This is simply not good enough.
In the Department of Transport's annual report for 2010-11, the department underspent its budget by an incredible R214 million. This was attributed to fewer taxis being scrapped than the department budgeted for. Is this a question of capacity or simply because the department overestimated the number of taxis that needed to be scrapped? And has the taxi industry now cleaned up its image?
The problem starts here at home, with the department being unable to fill critical posts. How can we have a viable and safe transport industry when the entity that is supposed to implement it does not have the capacity to function properly?
Outcome 2 of the Department of Transport, from its 2010-11 annual report, reads: "A transport sector that is safe and secure". We are still waiting for the Department of Transport's disaster management plan. The department blamed this on limited funding available for the projects yet the department reported gross underspending for the same financial year.
Cope supports calls for the total scrapping of the allowable alcohol limit when driving. We are still seeing many accidents that are a result of individuals being under the influence.
We need more rigorous testing and driver qualification criteria imposed on individuals operating within the bus and taxi industries. These individuals are transporting the nation and we must ensure that they have the necessary skills and experience and are fit to operate their vehicles effectively.
Minister, in your comments in the ANC Today of 7 October, you compare us in South Africa with Australia, but Australia has 1 600 fatalities per annum, whereas South Africa has 2 000 per month.