MEDIA STATEMENT

BUS OPERATORS URGED TO PUT THE LIVES OF COMMUTERS ABOVE PROFIT

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr. Bheki Cele has called on bus operators in the province not to put profit above the lives of commuters.

Cele was speaking at a Bus Indaba which was hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport in Pietermaritzburg today and was attended by more than 300 bus operators from all over the province. The main aim of the Indaba was to sensitize bus operators about the increasing number of road crashes involving buses, as well as to emphasize the important role of this sector in the growth of the province's economy. The Indaba also served as a platform for bus operators to raise issues of concern and seek clarity regarding new legislation and policy governing the bus industry.

Cele said that more than 80% of South Africa's population utilize public transport and therefore public transport operators, including bus operators, are responsible for a major portion of people's lives.

"Government has a responsibility to ensure that you make your money but that people's lives are not lost in the process. It seems that the majority of bus operators merely purchase buses to make a profit and are simply not interested in providing an effective and efficient service.

But this is the reason why many public transport operators are transporting so many of our people to the graves. Only a few days ago the door of a bus was shut on an elderly lady in Durban even before she was able to safely get off the bus," said Cele.

"The importance of public transport in the majority of our people's lives cannot be overemphasized. Bus operators have a responsibility to ensure that commuters are respected, that commuters are provided with a safe, efficient and affordable service and that they are not killed in our hands. Speeding, overloaded and un-roadworthy buses are a major problem. We must realize that the people who are killed in these crashes are not just ordinary passengers; they are fathers, mothers, daughters and sons," Cele said.

"In certain instances an entire family is wiped out in these crashes. We have visited several families after these crashes and I can assure you that these crashes are much more than just statistics. When you leave statistics and deal with families your entire understanding changes," said Cele.

Cele also related an incident where nine people died in a bus crash and the owner of the bus was not interested in the people who died but only wanted to know what happened to his bus.

"Let's get back to being human beings; we are public transport operators and not undertakers. We must respect the laws of our country. Subsidies are there to provide commuters with an effective service and not for operators to get rich. Let's transport our children safely to school.

Please, 'let us defend the weak'," Cele said.

Head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport Dr. Kwazi Mbanjwa stressed the importance of the public transport industry for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and announced that Operation "THATH' ISKOROKORO", targeting un-roadworthy public transport vehicles will be intensified. 

"The high number of bus crashes is unacceptable and therefore enforcement will not be debated. We will ensure 100% compliance. Road Safety is not only government's responsibility. It seems that for too often only drivers of buses were arrested and owners escaped, but owners must also be held accountable," Mbanjwa said.

Cele will host a Taxi Indaba tomorrow (Friday, 17 March 2006) at the eThekwini Community Church, Durban where at least 3000 taxi operators from all the province are expected to attend.

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