Road safety takes centre stage this week as thousands of worshippers and vocational travellers gear for a long Easter weekend and the City of Cape Town is leaving nothing to chance.
To help motorists and curb carnage on the provincial roads, the City announced last week, it would conduct free vehicle inspections at several testing centres. This would give the owners an opportunity to have their vehicles assessed to ensure they are fit for the road.
Meanwhile, on Sunday 2 April, taxi bosses and church leaders joined hands at the Nyanga taxi rank to seek divine intervention ahead of what is expected to be a busy weekend, starting today (6 April) until Monday 10 April.
In a show of unity and determination, Abathunywa Ministers Fraternity (an organisation of church leaders in the province that works closely with communities to uplift them spiritually), residents and members of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) appealed to God to guard them on the roads.
CATA secretary Bongi Titi described the service as a “special event” for the taxi operators and the entire community. He stated they were thrilled when Abathunywa members approached them and suggested the prayer.
“They said it is in their interest to pray for our drivers as we approach Easter. They are praying for our safe journey during these long trips. Also praying for peace and stability in the industry,” said Titi.
However, he said as the operators are well prepared and all their vehicles are roadworthy. He added that they are also cooperating with traffic officials.
“We are appealing to our commuters to stop hitchhiking and go straight to their local taxi ranks. If commuters have problems with the drivers, they must take the taxi’s registration number, the phone number which is normally written on the front door and call the owner. Alternatively, they can go to a taxi rank where they boarded the taxi,” said Titi.
Abathunywa’s president and leader of Apostolic Amen Church in Zion Rev Zama Mfihlo described the service as taking the pulpit to the community.
Mfihlo described it as “painful” to see a taxi leaving with people to the Eastern Cape or any part of the country and later return with a tow truck and dead passengers.
“People must prepare in time when they go on a long journey. They must not delay. That puts a lot of pressure on the driver. Passengers often tell the driver to hurry when they are late,” said Mfihlo.
Ward 37 councillor Sandile Martin stated that taxi operators are humans and appealed to commuters to cooperate with them.
“There are commuters who come to the taxi rank without money to travel to work, but because the taxi drivers know them, they take those passengers to work and pay the money later. That only demonstrates that the drivers have Ubuntu. Not all taxi drivers are rude,” he said.
According to the City, traffic service would be at the Joe Gqabi Public Transport Interchange, Bellville Traffic Department and the long distance bus terminus in the Cape Town CBD until this evening (6 April) as part of its latest instalment of Operation Exodus.
JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security, says they are preparing for a busy Easter period.
“Our appeal to long distance public transport operators is to make sure that they have competent persons behind the wheel, but also that their vehicles are fit for purpose. Our free vehicle safety checks are designed to improve road safety and protect the lives of travellers.
“As usual, we will also have vehicle checkpoints at strategic locations, to focus on vehicle safety, overloading and driver fitness. However, while Operation Exodus focuses on public transport operators, this does not mean that private motorists are getting a free pass.”
During the week of Easter last year, the City’s enforcement services arrested 91 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol. They also recorded 62 283 speeding offences.
Province-wide, 34 persons died in road accidents over the previous Easter weekend.
“The statistics are proof once more of why so much of our focus is on road safety. However, as with many other public safety issues, this is a shared responsibility. Road users have to take accountability for their actions and choices, and we will have no choice but to act against anyone who behaves in a manner that puts lives at risk,” concluded Smith.