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Passenger Association and Public Transport Enforcement Unit CelebratedThe commitment of KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety & Liaison Bheki Cele’s transport department to defending the weak took another turn recently when the first passenger association in the province was launched. Passengers are voiceless, yet most vulnerable stakeholders in the broader transport family as they are directly affected by road crashes and taxi violence. The Public Transport Passenger Association (PTPA) seeks to provide a formal voice for public transport passengers and the anniversary of the Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU) which is mandated to minimize violence in public transport at the same time reinforced the Department’s preoccupation with protecting the interests of the commuter. PTEU celebrated its five years of existence after provincial government commissioned a special investigation into the root-causes of taxi violence with a view to providing solutions. Both the PTEU celebration and the launch of PTPA were staged at the University of Zululand.
The PTEU, better known as Operation Shanela opened the event with a breath-taking parade (pictured above). Present at the event was Advocate Simo Chamane who is General Manager for Public Transport and Freight, Mayor of the city of Mhlathuze Councilor Z Mnqayi, the University of Zululand Vice Chancellor, HOD Chris Hlabisa, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Bheki Cele and the Regional Director of Empangeni LXK Mtambo. In his speech Cele said that people should stop blaming accidents on bad luck. “All round accidents are due to negligence, arrogance and carelessness. With the launch of the PPTA, we are encouraging passangers to air their opinions. The taxi associations should make it a point that taxi operators follow the rules of the road. Buses, taxis, associations and the police should form an alliance that will oversee that public transport operations run accordingly,” said Cele. He added by saying that it is a constitutional responsibility for modes of public transport to make sure that commuters are taken care of safely and that their transport is affordable. Cele said: “We recently closed taxi operations of the Skhawini and KwaDlangezwa because they could not resolve their issues. We can close those routes for ten years. There shall be law enforcement in this land and there should be no negotiations between taxi operators and traffic officers”. The awarding of the PTEU certificates went to B Dlamini as the best female performer, while MW Meyiwa walked away with the best male performer as well as the overall performer award.
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