The Relationship between Transport and Safety & Security

In his inauguration as the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, our Former Minister and Premier S’bu Ndebele clearly articulated his vision of bringing Peace, Stability and Economic Development to the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. This vision will be attained as long as safety and security is guaranteed to the people of KwaZulu-Natal and by extension the whole of South Africa. As Government we have done an excellent job in this regard because safety and security is guaranteed. However, with our road infrastructure rated the best in the continent our country is obviously a prime destination for both tourists and criminals. It is in this context that we have to understand the merging of the two Ministries of Transport and the Safety and Security in KwaZulu-Natal.

The relationship between transport and its effect on the safety and security of communities is not new. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ narrated a parable of a man who was mugged while walking on the Jericho Road and was later helped by a Good Samaritan. For spiritual and theological reasons the story ends there and we are not aware of any intervention by authorities of the Roman Empire to ensure safety and security after that unfortunate incident. However, if the event were to happen today here in KwaZulu-Natal, certainly the Community Road Safety Councils and Community Policing Forums could have jointly dealt with the incident since it involves Transport, Safety and Security. These two forums already exist to deal proactively with all incidents that affect public safety from bag snatching to serial killings.

The fact that Jericho Road, and not some riverbank or forest was chosen as the crime scene in this parable emphasizes the relationship between transport infrastructure and crime. When President Gorbachev of the former Soviet Union began introducing Perestroika and Glasnost in 1986, the Western World, for the first time since 1917, began to have access to that country and people moved in and out of the iron curtain. However with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent demise of Communism in Eastern Europe, there was a huge influx of immigrants to almost every part of the world, including South Africa. As early as 1992 our country and the rest of the world experienced a huge influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe including crime syndicates who took advantage of Apartheid immigration policies that offered quick and easy citizenship to White immigrants. However, the biggest attraction for crime syndicates was South Africa’s sophisticated transport infrastructure including our geo-strategic location between America and Asia. KwaZulu-Natal has two of the busiest harbours in the Southern Hemisphere, Durban and Richards Bay, which makes this province an ideal transit point for syndicates specializing in drug, money and even human trafficking. All these factors provided a fertile soil for the clandestine operations of the Russian Organizatsya, the Columbian Cartels, Chinese and Japanese Triads - all of them taking advantage of our transport infrastructure.

Quite clearly, therefore, a sophisticated transport system and infrastructure is a two edged sword that both serves the public but at the same time becomes a fertile ground for acts of crime and sabotage. Therefore when the Ministry of Safety and Security is combined with that of Transport, the aim goes beyond bringing order in public transport alone. Ours is an effort to bring synergy into all law-enforcement departments in KwaZulu-Natal in so far as they relate to transport. This multi-pronged approach to safety says that your safety does not only lie with your seatbelt but we will ensure that you are safe even outside your vehicle.

From Gcugcwa to the Italian Mafia, criminals, both ancient and modern, have always used some form of transport in the execution of crime in one way or the other. It has to be understood, however, that modern criminals rely mainly on sophisticated transport to conduct their operations. Cash-in transit heists, bank robberies and car hijackings are impossible to execute without swift and effective transport. This explains why we have joined hands with our neighbours in the SADEC region in trying to eradicate all criminal activities in our region. Even air transport is not immune from criminal activities as you will recall that recently a group of alleged mercenaries have found themselves languishing in a Zimbabwean jail after using air transport to do whatever they wanted to do in Equatorial Guinea. In 2001 here in KwaZulu-Natal Umtavuna bridge was almost destroyed by terrorists called the Boeremag. All these incidents are a clear indication that safety and security is not just a matter for public transport only. It touches on all other activities whether they promote or jeopardise public safety. We, therefore, want to ensure that enemies of democracy do not use transport to perpetuate their criminal activities. I say crime in spite of my awareness of some political agendas behind certain criminal activities that seek to undermine our democracy. Our aim is to protect our transport system, infrastructure and most importantly people for indeed SAVING LIVES is our ultimate objective.

Having outlined the global and national challenges of transport and law enforcement authorities, I think it is important for us as the newly established Ministry of Transport, Safety and Security to apply what we have learnt from the experiences of our colleagues nationally and internationally to provide safety and security to the people of KwaZulu-Natal. One of the challenges we face right now is to ensure peace and safety of all stakeholders in the broad area of public transport and the taxi industry in particular. Within a week since the two Departments have been merged a joint co-operation between ourselves and colleagues in the taxi business has prevented what could have become a full-scale war between the Stanger and Maphumulo Taxi Associations. We commend all participants that have ensured the success of negotiations we had with all contesting parties.

In the final analysis, I want to thank the people of KwaZulu-Natal for their wisdom that made it possible for us to bring these two Departments to work together under one Ministry to ensure PEACE, STABILITY and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Without that wisdom our province could have still been a laughing stock of the international community. We could still be hearing prophets of doom claiming to see "the dark clouds looming in the horizon." Fortunately those so-called "dark clouds" have been cleared by the rays of wisdom and support we continue to receive from the people of this Province. We salute the people of KwaZulu-Natal and we are unapologetic in our commitment to serve all citizens of this province. Our goal of prosperity through mobility rests on the foundation of safety and security. In the famous words of our beloved President Thabo Mbeki "Lets go back to Work".

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