SPEECH (NOTES) BY KWAZULU-NATAL MEC FOR TRANSPORT, COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LIAISON MR. BHEKI CELE AT THE PRAYER DAY HELD AT UMLAZI STADIUM ON SATURDAY, 5 MARCH 2005.

• In Matthew 18 of the Bible, Jesus taught not only the power of prayer, but also the power of agreement in prayer. He said that when multiple believers agree in prayer His Father would give them anything for which they ask.

• Because in united prayer, said Jesus - even in small groups of two or three -He Himself would be uniquely manifest.

• We at the Ministry of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison are firmly of the belief that religious leaders must play a more active role in "spreading the gospel of safety".

• Religious denominations and organisations are a critical pillar of civil society, as they make a meaningful impact in shaping societal behaviour and attitudes.

• E.M Bounds once said that "God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil."

• On the other hand, we as government will continue to play the role that we are mandated to play.

• We are committed to creating a province with minimal crime and road offences, and ensuring that the people of KwaZulu-Natal are safe.

• The unnecessary and deliberate loss of life, both on our roads and everywhere else, must be minimized.

• As you are fully aware, in order to achieve this we have moved from "zero tolerance to 100% compliance", and we will continue "defending the weak".

• This gathering today, is a culmination of a province-wide programme that has already gone to many areas.

• Our Inter-Faith Safety Programme forms part of our mass mobilisation plan to spread the gospel of safety, in order to reduce the number of deaths in KZN caused through road crashes and crime.

• The aim of this campaign is to establish and maintain a culture of safety, and to ensure that safety becomes everybody’s responsibility.

• For far too long, there has been a perception that safety was only government’s responsibility. However, the time has come for that perception to be urgently corrected.

• As we approach the forthcoming Easter holidays, our policing efforts will be intensified to deal with increased traffic volumes, and an influx of visitors to our province.

• No mercy will be shown to any road offender, and any one who commits any other criminal act.

• I am pleased to announce that in co-operation with the Department of Justice, as of 1 January 2005, the prescribed admission of guilt fines for traffic offences throughout KZN have been increased.

• Our 2005 Easter road safety programme will include:

• Several multi-disciplinary road blocks with all enforcement agencies such as the Road Traffic Inspectorate, SAPS, SANDF, Metro Police as well as local authority traffic agencies;

• High visibility patrols;

• The use of state of the art enforcement technology such as credit card verification devices, lazer speed machines and other equipment;

• A specialized pedestrian enforcement plan;

• A specialized public transport enforcement plan with our Public Transport Enforcement Unit (Operation Shanela);

• Road side courts; as well as

• Road Safety Education and awareness programmes such as Omela eKhaya, and so on.

• In conclusion, let us continue to spread the message of safety, and continue to pray for a decrease in the levels of crime, road offences and related deaths.

• Let us enhance this partnership to save lives.

• Finally, let us reflect on the words of our President Thabo Mbeki: "The new South Africa, born out of a broken and battered society, disfigured by the evil and corrupt apartheid system, cries out for hard political and socio-economic transformation which must be achieved if our country is to save itself from destruction. But it cries out also for spiritual power and resources to heal, to reconcile, to rebuild, and to restore its humanity. South Africa is crying out for its soul."

I thank you.

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