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NTRACK
46 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
Kenny Africa shares
his career journey
ALCOHOL AND ROADS FOCUS ON CHILDREN
Help us to create #BoozeFreeRoads Making our children safer on the roads
Transport and Public Works newsletter | ISSUE #22 DECEMBER 20191
ON TRACK
Contents IN THIS ISSUE
3 Holiday road safety message
4 Alcohol and road safety
6 Term priorities of the new
Provincial Minister
8 Road safety school projects
10 Freight Strategy emphasises
safety
12 Kenny Africa shares his career
6 journey
14 New number plates for the
Western Cape
15 Road Transport Management
System (RTMS)
8
VISION:
To lead in the delivery of government
infrastructure and related services.
MISSION:
The Department of Transport and Public Works
delivers infrastructure and services to promote
socio-economic outcomes and safe, empowered
and connected communities.
EDITORIAL TEAM:
Editor: Marion de Vries
12 Head of Communication: Jandré Bakker
Design: Sylvanus du Plessis and
Hantie Engelbrecht
CONTACT THE ON TRACK TEAM: Cover photo: Marion de Vries
Telephone: 021 483 8315 | Fax: 021 483 9851 Contributors: Stephen Heyns, Marion de Vries,
Email: Transport.Publicworks@westerncape.gov.za Carl Marx, Sophia Lourens, Al-Ameen Kafaar,
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za/tpw | Twitter: @WCGovTPW Nina September and Clive le Keur.
Please send us your feedback and suggestions.
2 ON TRACK
HOD’S holiday message
dry parts of the province remain Springboks winning the Rugby
in the grip of drought. We can World Cup. The national pride
no longer take water for granted. that this well-deserved victory
South Africa is a water-stressed brought about in South Africans
country, and climate change across lines of race, gender and
is likely to make the weather age was truly inspiring. When
even less predictable. Let’s keep we act together, we can achieve
bringing awareness to how we great things.
use every precious drop of water.
I want to thank every one of you
This year, Provincial Top for the part you played in making
Management launched a the work of the Department a
As 2019 draws to a close, let us campaign to foster good mental success this year. For those of
pause and reflect on what the health. The Department of you who will be taking leave, I
year has brought for us both Transport and Public Works wish you a restful and relaxing
personally and professionally. is proud of having a high- time with friends and family.
Let’s remember what went well performance culture; of serving For those of you who will be on
and be grateful. Let’s remind the public to the best of our duty over the festive season, I
ourselves about what could ability. This can be stressful. I am thank you for your service. I look
have been better and commit committed to creating a caring forward to all of you coming back
ourselves to build on what we culture in the Department. I in the new year with renewed
have learned. encourage all of you to look after determination to keep improving
your own well-being and the well- the lives of all the residents of
The Western Cape came to the being of your fellow employees. If the Western Cape. For those
brink of a “dry taps” scenario you need free professional help, celebrating Christmas, may it be
during the 2015-2018 drought. do not hesitate to call the toll-free a peaceful time, with your family
While there have been good rains number 0800 611 155. and loved ones.
this year, our dams have not yet
completely recovered, and the A key highlight of 2019 was the Jacqui Gooch
And so, another year has almost but rather to make travelling time
come to an end and we are about part of the holiday. As we plan
to enter the 2019 festive season. our trips, we should add in rest
For some of us, this is a time of joy periods, so that we take a planned
where we reconnect with family rest-break every two hours or 200
and friends. For others, this is km of travel. This is important to
a time to relax and take a well- deal with the creeping fatigue that
deserved break from work and affects our perceptive abilities and
travel to an inland holiday town, slows down our reactions.
or a destination next to the sea.
Unfortunately, this is also a time The importance of a wide-awake,
where we have to keep our eyes sober driver cannot be over-
REMEMBER
on the road fatality barometer to emphasised. It goes without saying
determine whether, this year, we that drivers should refrain from
will have managed to secure a using alcohol when getting behind
ALCOHOL decrease in fatalities. the wheel, regardless of how far
they will be driving. Alcohol and
AND ROADs Every year we sing the same song
– requesting motorists to please
roads don’t mix. A special force
of Random Breath Testing (RBT)
plan their trips and prepare well
DON’T MIX so that they do not have to rush, Continued on page 4 >
ON TRACK 3
traffic officers will be deployed 100% sure it is safe. In fact, it is especially children.
over this time to stop drivers seriously dangerous, and there is
and test them at any time of the no guarantee that we will arrive at We have all worked hard and
day, and at random locations. our destination any earlier. Giving deserve a well-deserved break
This effort to curb the scourge way and displaying some courtesy at the end of the year. Let us
of driving under the influence as we all share the road will help celebrate responsibly as we
has been strengthened by our ensure that we all get there safely. also spare a thought for all
mobile Evidentiary Breath Alcohol law enforcement and medical
Testing (EBAT) unit, a specialised Many of the most gruesome personnel who will be on duty
vehicle with equipment that can crashes that we see are due to during this time.
collect evidence next to the side excessively high travelling speeds.
of the road for use in criminal The danger increases dramatically I wish you a blessed festive season
prosecutions. during holiday periods because and a most enjoyable new year.
roads are generally much busier.
During this time, let’s not overtake So, keep to the speed limit at all
in the face of oncoming traffic times, and slow down when you Kenny Africa
or at any place where we are not notice pedestrians near the road, Provincial Traffic Chief
QA
Through its Safely Home road safety calendar, the
Department is appealing to road users to help create
booze-free roads during December and January. We
& answer some frequently-asked questions from people
who are interested in learning more about the
#BoozeFreeRoads campaign.
Alcohol and road safety
Q Why has the Department chosen to target
alcohol as a road safety issue over the festive
season?
Q What is the link between these deaths and
alcohol?
A In line with the Department’s vision of zero
fatalities on Western Cape roads, the Safely Home
A Forensic Pathology Services takes blood samples
from people killed on the road. What we have
found is that road deaths are strongly linked to alcohol,
calendar theme for December and January is “Alcohol which impairs judgement and leads people to make
and roads don’t mix”. Driving under the influence serious errors. Pedestrian deaths spike on weekends,
will always remain a very strong focus for our law especially Saturday nights. Among pedestrian fatalities
enforcement and road safety awareness efforts. Too where we have a blood alcohol content (BAC) test
often the role of alcohol in pedestrian road deaths result after death, 61% were found to be BAC-positive.
does not get the same attention. More than 66% of the BAC-positive results showed
over 0,20 grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood,
Q
meaning that the individual was severely intoxicated
But why target pedestrians? Is drunk driving not when he or she was killed. Bear in mind the legal limit
a bigger issue? for driving is 0,05 g/ 100 ml of blood.
A Q
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious
crime, and we will continue to utilise widespread What role can road users play?
and regular alcohol blitz roadblocks and Random
Breath Testing vehicle checkpoints to arrest offenders. The simple fact is that alcohol and roads don’t
However, pedestrians now account for 49% of fatalities
in the Western Cape. In other words, almost as many
pedestrians are killed as all other categories of fatality
A mix. Whether you are driving, walking, or riding a
motorbike or bicycle, even small amounts of alcohol
can impair your ability to make decisions, operate a
combined. While these fatalities are concentrated vehicle, or walk safely near traffic. If you have friends or
in the City of Cape Town area, there are numerous family who still drive under the influence, speak to them
hotspots throughout the province where pedestrians before they get into trouble with the law. Be a model of
are regularly killed on the road. responsible behaviour for other road users to follow.
4 ON TRACK
KNOW YOUR OWN LIMIT
Alcohol limit for motorists:
Provincial Minister sets his
term priorities
At the beginning of October Transport Month,
Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works
Bonginkosi Madikizela announced that the top four
priorities for his five-term of office would be:
1. Working together with the City of Cape
Town and other municipalities across the
province to improve road safety and road
infrastructure;
2. Working together with other spheres of
government to improve public transport
including rail, minibus bus taxis, metered taxis
and e-hailing; Minister highlighted the role of technology to
3. Working together with national government, improve public transport.
municipalities and other stakeholders on
spatial integration; and Regarding spatial integration, Madikizela said he had
4. Working with all relevant stakeholders to met with Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
develop skills and empower entrepreneurs Patricia de Lille regarding the transfer of national
and emerging contractors. land to municipalities. He went on to describe
progress that has been made on the Conradie
Better Living Exemplar Project, work on centrally
With regard to the first priority, he highlighted the located land in Cape Town for inner city housing,
importance of the Provincial Sustainable Transport and the Draft Two Rivers Local Spatial Development
Programme (PSTP); the Transport Hub; and the Framework that has now been released for public
additional capacity to Provincial Traffic Law comment.
Enforcement, specifically a specialised Interception
Unit, a Highway Patrol, and a Public Transport Regarding the fourth priority area, Madikizela
Inspectorate. described ongoing skills development and
empowerment work done by the Expanded Public
With regard to the second priority, the Provincial Works Programme.
6 ON TRACK
RBT
means
you need
a plan B
Provincial Minister Bonginkosi
Madikizela will be making
his way onto the streets this
coming festive season. He will driving under the influence on our of drinking and driving.
be supporting our traffic officers roads. These units move fast and
at roadblocks and help assisting operate anywhere, at any time, In other words, RBT means you
the initiative to keep our roads across the Western Cape. If you need a Plan B.
booze-free. Madikizela will be at have been drinking you can be
roadblocks and also have a media arrested, then tested in a mobile Cape Town and the Western Cape
launch at the World Rugby Sevens Evidentiary Breath Alcohol Testing are renowned for their amazing
tournament to be held at the Cape unit. If you are over the limit you events, fantastic hospitality and
Town Stadium. face jail, a fine, and having your great atmosphere. As we leave
licence suspended. winter behind, we are tempted
More than 1 300 people are killed outdoors by the great weather,
on Western Cape roads every year. As we head into the summer and many wonderful music and
Alcohol played a part in at least months and the festive season, the sporting events. We love that
60% of these deaths. Drinking Department’s RBT teams will be people enjoy our province and we
and driving robs families of loved working with our municipal traffic want to encourage everyone to
ones every day, and it costs the partners to target events and do so.
economy an estimated R29 million venues associated with alcohol
per day. consumption. Motorists planning But we are very serious when we
on attending music and cultural say that if you drink and drive in
Random Breath Testing units festivals, trance parties, and sports the Western Cape, we will arrest
were introduced in 2017 as part events are advised to make travel you. Be safe and remember
of Department’s efforts to curb arrangements that avoid the risk alcohol and roads do not mix.
ON TRACK 7
The road to child safety
A message from ChildSafe South Africa
Road traffic injuries have consistently departments of transport and must
featured amongst the top 10 leading include departments of education and
causes of death (World Health health, their private partners and non-
Organization [WHO], 2015), recently governmental organisations (NGOs).
rising to the 8th leading cause of death
(WHO, 2018). A 2016 study by the
Road Traffic Management Corporation “The first intervention
(RTMC) and the Council for Scientific aims to reduce speed in
and Industrial Research (CSIR) found
that road fatalities were costing South
school and residential
Africa R142.95 billion every year, and areas from 60 km/hour
robbing the country of much of its to 30 km/hour...”
potential through premature and
avoidable deaths. In South Africa, road
deaths are the leading cause of death In July 2019, ChildSafe and the DTPW
for children, with death rates double the Directorate: Road Safety Management
world average in certain age categories. coordinated their efforts to advocate
For children aged 5-14 years, road for two interventions that are proven
injuries rank as the second leading to reduce road fatalities and injuries.
cause of death. The first intervention aims to reduce
speed in school and residential areas
Globally, numerous interventions from 60 km/hour to 30 km/hour, and
have been implemented to reduce the second aims to increase child
road fatalities and injuries involving restraint usage through education and
children based on the four E’s: traffic enforcement. Reducing speed from 60
law enforcement, safety education, to 30 km/hour reduces the likelihood
engineering, and evaluation. These of death for children in a crash from
interventions can only work if they are 90% to 10%; and always using an age-
well coordinated. appropriate child restraint increases the
survival chances of a child passenger by
In 2018, Childsafe partnered with up to 80%.
the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) by undertaking a review of Since then, this collaboration has
literature, local data and legislation in raised awareness through meetings
order to strengthen efforts to reduce and presentations at all levels of
child road injuries. One of the key government. Getting the necessary
findings was that, over and above being buy-in and support for these
a transport challenge, road injuries are interventions to be implemented will
a public health concern. This means take time, but the message is clear: by
effective action to reduce the burden working together we have the potential
of child road fatalities goes beyond to save one life at a time.
8 ON TRACK
Driver safety event held at
Golden Arrow bus depot
Recently the DTPW Road Safety Management partnered with RTMC to organise
a driving safety awareness event at the Golden Arrow bus depot in Montana.
The aim was to speak to drivers around road safety issues such as driver fatigue,
overloading, and the dangers of drinking and driving.
Also present at the event were the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services, the Road
Accident Fund, and the Western Cape QuadPara Association. During her input,
Maria Bekker of the RTMC used “drunk driving” goggles which make it very clear
how alcohol can affect a driver’s judgement. DTPW officials used the “seatbelt
convincer” to demonstrate how seatbelts improve safety in a moving vehicle.
DTPW and the City of Cape Town
recognise scholar patrol
teams
In October, DTPW Road Safety Management and the City of Cape Town’s
Traffic Services hosted an appreciation day for scholar patrols from 75 schools
across the four Cape Town Metro education districts. Also represented at the
event were the RTMC, the Western Cape Education Department, and the Road
Accident Fund.
Scholar patrols make learners safer by facilitating the crossing of roads near
schools at busy times. Learners at the event were handed medals and their
schools received new scholar patrol equipment and uniforms.
Heathcliff Thomas, Traffic Chief of the City of Cape Town, thanked the schools
and their learners for the dedication they have shown to the scholar patrol
programme.
Speaking on behalf of learners at the event, Tristen Cooper, a learner from
Grassy Park EC Primary School, thanked DTPW and the City of Cape Town. She
promised to keep up the good work and make sure that learners abide by the
rules when they cross the road.
RSM joins hands with
taxi association
DTPW Road Safety Management hosted a workshop in Paarl East with the local
taxi association to improve road safety awareness amongst taxi drivers. Past
interventions involved handing out pamphlets at taxi ranks. However, because
of the volatile atmosphere between rival taxi associations, the Department
opted for a more integrated educational intervention which included officials
from Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement and the Provincial Regulatory Entity
(PRE). Traffic officers at the event demonstrated what a thorough vehicle
inspection looks like and spoke about fatigued driving, taxi licensing, and
vehicle impoundment.
ON TRACK 9
New strategy for
more efficient
freight transport
The Western Cape Freight
Strategy emphasises transport Perhaps the biggest challenge
network safety as one of its five is an over-reliance on road
principles. The other principles freight and the underutilisation
are: 1) freight network efficiency; of alternative means of
2) inclusive economic growth; transporting goods. The result
3) sustainability; and 4) cost is that transporting goods takes
optimisation. The Freight Strategy longer and costs more than it
and its Implementation Plan create should. That increases the prices
a framework for collaborating and of products in the Western
coordinating with all stakeholders Cape, decreases the province’s
to tackle the challenges at hand, competitiveness, and has a
including road safety. More than negative impact on the economy.
90% of the province’s general While rail has challenges, like
freight moves by road, so road historical underinvestment, ageing
freight can be seen as the infrastructure, and inconsistent
lifeblood of the Western Cape’s service, it is often cheaper than
economy. The efficient movement road freight. Making more use
of freight is critical to growth and of rail to transport freight would
prosperity, particularly because help to mitigate the congestion,
this province is far from South road crashes and environmental
Africa’s industrial heartland. damage caused by road freight
vehicles.
Demand is expected to increase
by 50% in the next 15 years. In The Western Cape Government
some places, businesses struggle is improving infrastructure,
to connect to markets. Some promoting the use of technology
infrastructure is deteriorating, to improve freight efficiency and
deficient, or lacking capacity. reduce the number of trucks on
Overloaded trucks damage roads. the road, enhancing traffic law
Driver fatigue and unroadworthy enforcement, and improving
vehicles cause road crashes. security. The development of
Limited consolidation means there more well-located logistics hubs
are more trucks on the road than will help in this endeavour. The
necessary. A lack of good data aim is to work together to make
hampers well-informed decision freight transport safer, more
making. Accidents, emissions and efficient, more cost-effective and
congestion cost the Western Cape environmentally more sustainable.
economy R9bn a year.
10 ON TRACKReducing the number safety campaigns; 2) to work with all stakeholders
to improve driver skills; 3) to develop and support
of freight-related heavy initiatives to improve driver wellness; 4) to identify
obstacles to voluntary compliance with the Road
vehicle crashes Transport Management System (RTMS) and support
its adoption; and 5) to assess one-stop sites for
traffic-law compliance. These actions are in various
A total of 1 631 people were involved in freight- stages of implementation.
related crashes in the Western Cape between 2016
and 2019, and 68 of them died. Road freight crashes Through its Safely Home campaign, the WCG
and policing cost the Western Cape over R2.7bn a promotes road safety through monthly themes
year. The causes include: driver fatigue; poor vehicle distributed through a variety of media, including
condition; speeding; unsafe road conditions; unsafe variable message sign (VMS) boards, newspapers,
or illegal parking; a lack of adequately skilled drivers; Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and radio. The October
and the behaviour of other road users. theme #SaveKidsLives included the road freight
safety message #DontTruckAround. Messages include
The relevant Freight Strategy objective is to the dangers of children playing “chicken” by running
reduce the number of freight-related heavy vehicle in front of oncoming trucks, teaching children good
crashes. The actions that are being implemented road safety habits around trucks, and the dangers of
are: 1) to develop and support freight-related “trucksurfing” (hanging onto moving trucks).
ON TRACK 11Kenny Africa shares developed a sense of whether a
car was stolen or was carrying
drugs. I stopped a vehicle that had
his career journey been stolen from a man murdered
in Kuils River and arrested the
three murderers. I had to testify
in the High Court and was able
Farewell Mr K Targets and awards to help bring the guilty parties to
A husband, a father, a grandfather In 1974 a traffic officer was justice.
and a road warrior well known to expected to write an average
many road users in the Western of 30 tickets per month, arrest 1 What I would say to newly
Cape and beyond. Kenny Africa, drunk driver a month, and attend appointed traffic officers
Provincial Traffic Chief, also known to 1 motor theft case a year. I set Thank the Lord for the opportunity
as Mr K or, the way he refers to higher personal targets for myself to be able to keep our motorists
himself, Mr 24/7, always available in that year and achieved all of and pedestrians safe. Be early
to anyone in need. Over the years, them – 360 tickets, 15 arrests and 1 always, be willing to go the extra
he has built a great rapport with motor theft case per month. I was mile, and be wise enough to pick
the media and law-abiding road promoted to supervisor in 1975, up when someone is lying to
users. He’s also made it clear the first coloured traffic officer to you. Don’t allow anyone to make
that Traffic Law Enforcement be appointed in the Western Cape you negative about your job.
will deal decisively with anyone (then known as Cape Province). In Remember why you decided to
who endangers road safety. Mr K 1976, I received the annual Class 1 become a traffic officer and that
started his career as a young traffic merit promotion award. should motivate you to stay in this
officer 46 years ago and is finally In 1997, I become the first coloured job. Stay strong and don’t be afraid
ready to hang up his uniform. traffic chief, was promoted to to take on any challenge.
Deputy Provincial traffic chief in
Becoming a traffic officer 2001, and have been Provincial Engagement with the media
My dream was to become a Traffic Chief Director since 1 April I have engaged with the media
lawyer, but money was an issue. 2010. I furthered my studies, first every day for 10 years through my
I was the youngest of 11 children, through Lyceum College and WhatsApp group, radio interviews
living in a small town called attained an Intermediate Traffic and print media interviews.
Genadendal in the Overberg. I lost Diploma in 1982 and completed a
my father when I was 2 years old bachelor’s degree in Road Traffic My biggest challenge on the job
and my mom raised 11 children and Municipal Police Management Being the one fighting for equality
and had to work hard to give through the University of Tshwane, and fairness during the time of
us the best. I wanted to make a which I passed cum laude. The apartheid in Worcester was the
difference in the community and University of Tshwane then biggest challenge of my career.
other people’s lives. In 1974 as appointed me as a part-time I went into disputes with the
an 18-year-old, I applied at the lecturer from 2006-2010. Some of senior management to fight for
traffic college (before Gene Louw, the awards I have received over equal treatment of white and
we were trained at the Ottery time include Best Traffic Officer of coloured officers. I was seen as
Traffic Training College). During the Year (1990), Best Overall Batho a troublemaker as I fought for
the apartheid years, coloured Pele Public Servant award (Bronze) the rights and privileges that all
trainees were not allowed to be in 2016, Best Public Service traffic officers have today. I was
trained with white ones in Cape Innovator - Employee Award turned down so many times, but
Town. My first traffic job was (Silver) in 2017 and Best Male my perseverance and willingness
in Worcester in 1974 and after Employee in Transport in South to stand my ground meant I
6 months I wanted to resign Africa in 2016, awarded by the eventually achieved my goal.
because of apartheid. Coming then Minister of Transport, Minister
from a predominantly coloured Dipuo Peters (MP) in Umthatha. What happens next?
community, it was difficult to adapt A possible political career may
to the circumstances we were One career highlight follow after my 46 years as a traffic
placed under. Another 6 months In 1984 I was transferred to officer to be there for people. I’ll be
passed and I wanted to resign Beaufort West for 2 years. The taking on this new journey to fight
again, but my friend Officer Cupido roads were very quiet and there for the rights of the citizens of the
convinced me to stay and said that were not many cars on the road, Western Cape standing together
I would become the chief of traffic which means there was not much to achieve what is needed, Better
some day. to do. During that quiet time I Together.
12 ON TRACKON TRACK 13
Deadline for comments on
proposed new licence mark
approaches
On 15 November 2019, Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works Bonginkosi Madikizela
published a notice of his intention to determine that the licence mark for the Province of the Western
Cape is “WC”. The deadline for comments is 13 December 2019.
Key features of the proposed new system are as follows:
• WC licence numbers will consist of a combination of two letters, two numbers and two letters,
and end with the licence mark “WC”. No licence numbers may contain the letters A, E, I, O, U or
Q. Licence numbers beginning with the letter G will be reserved for government vehicles.
• The intended implementation date is 1 February 2020.
• The existing personalised licence number system (licence numbers ending in “WP”) will not be
affected by the introduction of the proposed WC licence mark.
• All existing town-specific licence numbers (e.g. CA and CX) will be phased out by 31 January
2025. From 1 February 2025, all vehicle owners still using town-specific licence numbers will
have to apply for a WC licence number.
• Owners who have paid for the use of special town-specific licence numbers (personalised
numbers) will not receive a refund. However, they may exchange that number with a
personalised WP licence number of the user’s choice, free of charge, and in line with existing
policy guidelines.
• Because 8-character CAA (Cape Town) and CAW (George) town-specific licence marks
are about to run out, special arrangements have been made for 9-character CAA and CAW
combinations until such time as the new system comes into effect.
More information may be found at: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/new-western-
cape-provincial-licence-mark-faqs.
14 ON TRACKImproving truck safety and
efficiency through the RTMS
The Council for Scientific and RTMS Criteria (SANS 1395-1:2014)
Industrial Research (CSIR) says (Clauses 1 - 2) (Clauses 3 - 5) (Clause 7-8)
(Clause 6)
ideally road transport in South Fleet / Load- Safety / • Driver Welness • Providing skills
Africa would be efficient and ing Control Compliance • Medical fitness development
safe and characterised by a • Fleet • Vehicle Maintenance • Chronic illness to ensure
Inventory • Basic • management drivers obtain
high standard of infrastructure and retain
• Control of roadworthiness Fatigue
(capacity, road surface, road Loading • Minimising managment (Shift competency
markings, road signs, stopping • Prevent breakdowns / Driving hours) to be safe,
facilities, road reserve); Overloads • Speed management • Wellness compliant
• Optimise • Accident analysis initiatives and a minimal
minimum incidents/crashes risk on public
Payload • Traffic violations • (Nutrition ect.)
including breakdowns; a high • Risk management roads
level of compliance with traffic
regulations; a high level of (Clauses 9-13)
safety and security underpinned Documents + Records + Monitoring + Corrective Actions +
by effective law enforcement; Internal Audit + Management Review
efficient emergency response; and
seamless cross-border transit.
In fact, the industry is In 2007, there were only 74 RTMS- availability has improved, and
characterised by: overloading; certified vehicles in South Africa. the average number of repairs
poor vehicle fitness (servicing There are now almost 300 fleets and maintenance work orders to
and maintenance); poor comprising approximately 18 000 vehicle per year has decreased.
driver fitness (fatigue, health trucks and buses. This includes Traffic violations have gone down,
and training); reckless driver four bus operators: Buscor (420 as has the fleet incident rate.
behaviour; border post delays; buses), Intercape (160 coaches), Driver overtime has been reduced
bribery and corruption (which Golden Arrow Bus Services by 61%. Fuel consumption has
has an impact on both compliant (11 000 buses), and Interstate improved from 17 litres/ 100 km
and non-compliant operators); Bus Services in Bloemfontein to 13 litres/ 100 km. The carbon
and inadequate periodic road (237 buses). RTMS adopters footprint has improved by 24%.
maintenance. also include 30 abnormal load Between 2013 and 2017, the
operators with 258 vehicles (plant adoption of the RTMS enabled
In 2014, the adoption of South hire, construction, engineering Dawn Logistics to improve
African National Standard (SANS) and mobile crane vehicles); and its fuel consumption by 23%.
1395-1 provided the basis for 2 commercial abnormal load This is primarily the result of
the Road Traffic Management operators (108 vehicles). good maintenance processes
System (RTMS). The RTMS is a A City of Cape Town case study and good driver behaviour in
voluntary integrated and holistic of the impact of RTMS on its fleet respect of speeding, defensive
self-regulation scheme for truck of 994 electricity maintenance driving, braking behaviour, and
operators and drivers that focuses services vehicles shows a number driving economically, of which
on: 1) fleet management and of improvements. At least 98% of are promoted by the RTMS
loading control; 2) compliance all planned services are completed accreditation scheme.
with legislative road safety in the planned month. Fleet
requirements; 3) support for driver
wellness; and 4) support for safer
driving. Case studies show that,
in addition to improving safety
and protecting the road network,
there are real efficiency and cost
benefits too.
ON TRACK 15GENE LOUW
TRAFFIC COLLEGE
Consider a career in traffic law enforcement
The Gene Louw Traffic College offers 12-month
traffic officer’s training courses for young people who
meet the requirements.
The College has a well-deserved reputation for producing dedicated and well-
trained traffic officers. Courses usually start in August every year. Trainees must
be employed in a vacant traffic officer post at a local authority or provincial
administration. They get some practical experience through various deployments.
What: e.g. the National Road Traffic Act and
Accredited traffic officer’s training the Criminal Procedure Act
course • First aid training
• Fire-fighting training
Where:
Gene Louw Traffic College, Requirements:
Brackenfell, Cape Town • Appointment in a vacant traffic officer
post in a local authority or provincial
Qualification: administration
Further Education and Training • No criminal record
Certificate (FETC) in Road Traffic • Senior certificate or equivalent
Law Enforcement • Code B driving licence
• Able to perform strenuous physical
Key training areas: exercises
• Firearm competency training • Not older than 35 years
• Training in applicable legislation, • Able to undergo firearm training
More information
website: www.westerncape.gov.za/gene-louw-traffic-college | tel: 021 983 1500
Our traffic officers make us proud by
improving law enforcement on our roads
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