Program Directors.
Her Royal Majesty, Kgoshigadi Mamaila and Members of her Tribal Council.
The Executive Mayor of the Mopani District Municipality – Clr Pule Shayi.
The Mayor of the Greater Letaba Local Municipality – Clr Thamaha Mamanyoha. and Councilors of the Greater Letaba and Mopani Municipalities.
The Local Ward Councilor of Ward 22 – Clr Mamaila.
The Head of Department – Mr Stephen Matjena.
Government Officials present here today.
Distinguished Guests.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Members of the Media.
I greet you.
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We have brought the Launch of the 2023 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign to the people of Ga -Mamaila, in the Greater Letaba Municipality, of the Mopani District, because we have noticed an upward pattern of road fatalities, in this part of the Province.
The Mopani District, counts amongst the busiest Regions, because a bigger part of the R 36, R 40, R 81, R 578 and R 71 are found here.
We have partnered in this Launch, with ‘Magoshi a rena’, and our Local and District Municipalities, because we are aware of the cordial relations, that exist, between our communities and the institution of traditional leadership.
We also appreciate the reception we have received, by various stakeholders and community structures, in this locality.
One of the contributing factors, to the high volumes of accidents on our roads, is the presence of stray domestic animals, that are supposed to be housed in their kraals, during the night.
We continue to witness this worrying trend, of domestic animals that are causing accidents on our roads, because their owners are neglecting them.
We are therefore making this humble appeal, to all those who are owning domestic animals, to ensure that they look after them, and keep them off our roads.
Our statistics also indicate that there are more accidents happening in this District, and they are mostly affecting pedestrians.
This launch is meant to heighten this problem, and also appeal with our road users, both pedestrians and motorists, to always remain safe on the roads.
We have lost a total of 199 lives, in this District, during the 2022/23 Financial Year, and it is our prayer, that this number should be reduced, in this Financial Year.
Programme Directors, our intensified road safety campaigns, continue to yield the desired results, and this is attested by the road fatalities, that were recorded in the past financial year, compared to other years.
We continue to experience a rising number of pedestrian fatalities on our roads.
Most of these, are recorded as ‘hit and runs’, as motorists do not stop, after hitting their victims.
In the recent past, we have intensified our outreach and education programmes towards highlighting this problem, and we are hopeful that we will have less numbers, during this Festive period.
Compatriots, the Festive Season is supposed to be a period of delight and family reunion, and it is our wish as Government, that the number of road fatalities should drastically diminish, during this period.
It is not a period for losing our loved ones, as a consequent of untimeous deaths, hence our appeal that we should all adhere to traffic regulations, and drive within the speed limit.
Due to its geographic location, the Limpopo Province is strategically placed as a connecting node to the SADeC Region, and it experiences high volumes of traffic, throughout the year.
We therefore expect a heightened presence of vehicles that will be travelling through our Province to other parts of the Country, and the Continent.
We are making this clarion call, that all motorists, should not overload their vehicles, and must exercise patience and restraint, on the road.
We have invited to this event, various operators within the Public Transport space, because they are integral to our mission of attaining a fatality free society.
We also want to urge members of the Public, to resort to various modes of public transport, for the sake of their safety and security, during this Festive period.
We continue to hear of several incidents, where people were either robbed or mugged of their belongings, while traveling. This, mostly happen to people who are hitch-hiking, and not using the most permissible forms of public transport, which are buses and taxis.
We are going to be hard on those who will be driving under the influence of alcohol, during this period.
Alcohol consumption, counts amongst the top 5 contributing factors, to most carnages on our roads.
Because of its effect on drivers’ capability to make certain judgements, most drivers tend to overtake dangerously, drive over the speed limit and ignore other road rules, when under the influence of alcohol.
It is for this reason, that a great part of our Festive Season operations, will place additional attention on alcohol consumption.
Another contributing factor, to the majority of our fatalities, is the failure by road users to take enough rests, during long trips. Fatigue makes drivers to be less alert, and impairs their hand and eye coordination, and this has resulted in most of the horrible accidents, that we have seen on our roads.
Those who are undertaking longer trips, or spending a lot of time on the road, must rest enough.
Majority of the drivers on our roads, do not take the necessary precautionary measures, before undertaking their journeys.
There are a number of vehicles, which are involved in accidents, because they are not roadworthy and generally defective.
If it is not their tyres in bad condition, it is other mechanical defects, like brakes and steering mechanisms, that have been neglected.
Starting from next week, we will be experiencing high traffic volumes, on all our major roads, as many people will be travelling to their respective destinations to spend time, with friends and families.
It remains our hope, that this will indeed be a period for family reunion, and tranquility, as none of us should lose their lives on the roads.
Our message is not only about road-safety, but the general safety of our people, and their belongings, during this period.
We are aware, that during this period, criminals are also out and about, to earn a quick living, through unscrupulous means.
Let us also avoid carrying huge amounts of cash on us.
We must also not leave our homes, unattended during this period.
We have also brought to this event, our media partners, who are expected to disseminate this safety message throughout all parts of the Province, and the Republic, to help us, to reduce road fatalities, and build a safe Country, in which we all dream to live in.
I want to conclude by thanking all of you, for being a part of this campaign, and I also want to urge all of you, to spread this road safety message, to our friends and family members, and urge them to stay safe on the roads, and Arrive Alive.
I thank you.
