SPEECH BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, MR S'BU NDEBELE, DURING THE ROAD TRAFFIC INSPECTORATE (RTI) PASSING OUT PARADE AT THE KWAZULU-NATAL TRAFFIC TRAINING COLLEGE (PIETERMARITZBURG), 14 DECEMBER 2001

Master of Ceremonies
Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, Head of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal
Senior Management and Staff from the KZN Department of Transport
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great pleasure for me to be part of this graduation ceremony for thirty (30) traffic officers who will be joining us permanently in our struggle to save lives in KwaZulu-Natal. The KZN Department of Transport, through its Traffic Training College, aims at providing appropriate training and development in order to ensure the delivery of professional service and leadership which meets organizational and community needs. For this year the Traffic Training College has scored another victory in terms of training and development.

Twenty Traffic Officers that are graduating here today are from various Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) Stations and ten (10) are from various Municipalities. Five of these students are women. The actual course content that these officers have undergone could be broken down into various categories, including final theory exams, final practical exams, internal assessment tests and other auxiliary subjects. During this course students receive training in such crucial fields like Traffic Management, Incident Management, Crime Prevention, Basic Firefighting, Police Professionalism and the Interim Taxi Act. The course runs for a duration of six months during which students also participate in monitoring KZN Provincial Vehicle Abuse. It is clear therefore that the students who have participated in this course come out with a deep insight into the manifold demands of Traffic Management.

Statistics inform us that at least 2 000 people are killed on our roads in KwaZulu-Natal each year. Nationally, the figure is 10 000 lives annually with an economic loss of R13, 5 billion out of which KwaZulu-Natal alone looses R2 billion. This is almost equal to the entire budget of our Department in this province. Quite clearly, no sober-minded person will relax in the presence of these horrible statistics. It is precisely because of these reasons that year after year the KZN Department of Transport comes with innovative ways and means of saving lives under the overarching strategy of ZERO TOLERANCE. We are determined to tackle the problem of road crashes and root out all criminal behaviour on our roads.

I have a very important message to all Traffic Officers, especially those who are graduating here today: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport values your services. It is no small thing that we have received national recognition as the Department with the most up-to-date information on traffic and road safety matters throughout the country, because of you. I therefore encourage you to keep on with your good work. Be always polite and professional when talking to road users while firm in situations that demand you to be so.

Your behaviour can either invite or chase away potential investors from this Province. Never indulge yourselves into corrupt practices like bribery. Always remember: the world is watching and the KZN Department of Transport has no place for corrupt Traffic Officers. They belong in jail.

In the final analysis, I want to congratulate all of you who are graduating here today. You have joined the Road Traffic Profession during a very interesting period in its history. KwaZulu-Natal is already having an influx of visitors driving on our roads which is where your will not only use Evidential Breathalyser Tests but your professionalism will also be tested in the process.

Go back to your respective jobs mindful of high professional standards the KZN Department of Transport expects of you and mindful also of the trust we have invested in you. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

ASIPHEPHE

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