Speech by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters at the pass-out
parade of Gauteng Traffic Officers and launch of mobile vehicle
testing stations, Boekenhoutkloof Traffic College, 14 June 2016
Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga
MECs
The Head of the Gauteng Department of Community Safety
RTMC CEO
Traffic Chiefs
Ladies and gentlemen
We are meeting here two days before the nation commemorates 40
years of June 16, a day on which young people of our country rose
up to demand the removal what they considered a major obstacle in
their acquisition of education, skills and advancement.
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Instead of listening to their genuine demands, the government of the
day responded with brutal force killing young innocent children.
However their heroic actions galvanized the struggle for liberation
and brought forth the demand enshrined in the Freedom Charter that
the doors of learning and culture be opened to all.
Since 1994 the democratic government has been working hard to
bring about the realization of the aspirations of the youth of 1976. We
have been guided in this noble endeavour by teachings of our former
President Nelson Mandela who made us understand that:
“Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through
education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that
the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a
child of farmworkers can become the president of a great nation. It is
what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that
separates one person from another.”
Today’s graduation is therefore a confirmation of our government’s
commitment to empower young people of our country with education,
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skills and knowledge they need to development themselves and
contribute to the growth of our nation.
We therefore join fathers, mothers, brothers, sister, uncles and
cousins who have gathered here in cheering the young people who
have successfully completed their training as traffic officers. The
months you have spent here have not been easy but they have been
rewarding.
It is my sincerest hope that you will use the skills you have acquired
to uplift your families, contribute to the development of your
communities and assist us to reduce scourge of road crashes and
fatalities.
From today the nation will be looking upon you to assist the
government to realise the commitment it has made to reduce road
fatalities by 50% by 2020. You have been provided with the
necessary skills and expertise to make a difference in the lives of our
community, do not disappoint them.
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We fully understand that the environment we are sending you into is
full of temptations and dangers. There are sharks out there waiting to
tempt you into corruption.
I call upon you to resist the temptation to take bribes and to
implement the law without fear, favour or prejudice. Always
remember that the embarrassment of being caught in corruption will
not be borne by you alone. This embarrassment will extend to you
families, children and the entire government.
We have also noted with deep concern the increasing number of
unwarranted attacks on our traffic law enforcement officers. Every
week there are reports of a traffic officer who is run over by some
rogue who refuses to obey the rules of the road.
Our courts must deal harshly with the people who attack our officers
for doing their work. An attack on law enforcement officers is an
attack on the state. Communities must therefore come to the defence
of our law enforcement officers and assist us in sending out a clear
message that traffic officers are also human and deserve respect and
protection to do their work without hindrance.
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The government is prepared continue investing in the skills and
development of our traffic officers. We are making preparations to
introduce a new qualification for traffic officers which will be
equivalent to a national diploma or National Qualification Framework
level 6. We want our officers to be skilled in all competences of traffic
law enforcement and we will be re-organizing our training colleges to
offer specialized training to equip our officers with all the skills
required from an officer in the 21st century.
To harmonize our traffic law enforcement fraternity, we have decided
to introduce a single and identical uniform for the sector in all
provinces. Traffic and law enforcement vehicles will also bear a single
identical brand in all provinces. The working together we have seen
reflected by having traffic officers from all provinces here today is a
clear demonstration of the vision we have for traffic law enforcement
in our country. Our vision is seeks to build an integrated, effective and
efficient traffic law enforcement sector that works in a unified manner
to make our roads safer.
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Ladies and gentlemen we understand that our law enforcement
officers will not be successful in whatever they do unless they have
the necessary tools of trade to make a difference. It is for that reason
that we are today handing over nine mobile vehicle testing stations to
all provinces to help in efforts to reduce the main causes of crashes
on the roads.
With this state of the art equipment, traffic officers will be able test
roadworthiness of vehicles helping them, on the spot, to assess
whether the brake system, steering wheels and lights functioning
properly.
While human error remains a major contributor to fatal road crashes,
we understand that vehicle factors also play a significant and
important role. Our analysis of fatal crashes shows that tyre bursts,
smooth tyres, faulty brakes, faulty steering mechanism and
headlights are responsible factors in crashes vehicle roadworthiness
was a factor.
Therefore by launching this equipment here today we are signaling to
all motorists that the days of driving unfit vehicles are coming to an
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end. We are now equipped with the necessary technology to speedily
identify unfit vehicles and remove them from the road.
Safety on the roads is not negotiable. The whole nation is concerned
about the levels of lawlessness that lead to crashes and fatalities on
our roads. Let’s go out and make a difference.
Congratulation to the class of 2016. Let me remind you that the
diploma you have attained today is only a first step in the long journey
of personal development.
Always remember where you came from, don’t be aloof, remain
humble and make your contribution in the national effort to eradicate
poverty and inequality. Always bear in mind that Nelson Mandela
taught us that:
“Overcoming
poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like
Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it
can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.
Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great
generation. Let your greatness blossom.”
Thank You
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EndsISSUED BY: Department of Transport
159 Forum Building
Pretoria
0001
http:www.transport.gov.za
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