Transport and Public Works

1. (a)  Our current staff establishment consists of :

It important to note that 87 trainee traffic officers will be graduating on the 13^th December 2021. This graduation class is included in the Provincial Inspector total above. The recruitment process to induct an additional 90 trainees into Gene Louw Traffic College from January 2022 has been successfully completed.

(b)  (i)  As of 30^th September  2021 the Provincial Traffic Services fleet 

              consisted of a total of 430 vehicles. 

(ii)  The vehicles are allocated as follows:

(c)   Extensive use of all our available data and information sources played a central role in compiling our detailed and approved Integrated Tactical Plan for the Festive Season. The plan is divided into three phases as follows:

Phase one: October Transport Month

1^st – 31^st October 2021

Phase two: Pre - Festive and Festive Season

1^st November 2021 – 15^th January 2022

Phase three: Post Festive Season

16^th – 31st January 2022

Operational planning and deployment over this period is aimed at reducing fatalities by focusing on poor driver behaviour, motor vehicle fitness and pedestrian safety. This will be done by deploying our resources effectively at specific locations, on specific days and times to conduct operations targeted at specific behaviours such as speeding, moving violations and failure to wear safety belts. Our mobile vehicle testing units have been fully upgraded and will be deployed at various locations to conduct comprehensive roadside roadworthiness tests to ensure motor vehicle fitness, including a focus on defective tyres, lights and brakes.

Driving over long distance, especially at night, has historically been a major contributing factor to a high fatality rate in the public transport industry at this time of year. Since the introduction of our integrated Fatigue Management and Awareness programme, which includes Transport Operations’ Land Transport Safety directorate, the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE), the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Forensic Pathology Services (FPS) and SAPS we have seen significant reductions in the frequency and severity of public transport crashes at peak holiday times. To sustain this momentum, we will be introducing additional fatigue management operations on the N1 Touwsriver as well as the N2 Albertinia and Petroport. 

All major operations will be supported by Safely Home via social media, extending the reach of the officer on the ground.

Pedestrians, especially intoxicated pedestrians, remain the largest contributor by road user type to provincial traffic fatalities, and the Festive Season is no exception.  As part of our integrated Pedestrian Safety Plan which our Directorate Road Safety Management will spearhead, the focus will be on Visibility, Dangerous Crossings, Reckless and Distracted Walking (especially drinking-and-walking and cell phones). The pedestrian plan will be supported by an extensive media and social media campaign to reach the masses.

In support of this plan, Safely Home will focus on #BoozeFreeRoads via messaging targeted at both drivers and pedestrians, via radio, digital billboards, social media and online advertising, using cutting edge location-based targeting technology to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time.

2. Mutual co-operation with local authorities and the SAPS is central to maintaining safe roads, and such co-operation is ongoing at all times. Our Festive Season integrated joint operational planning is facilitated at the SAPS Cluster meetings within the five regions across the province. All relevant law enforcement entities are in attendance within these structures.  Local authorities and the SAPS have their own operational focuses, especially at this time of year, and collectively we work in partnership on the basis of mutual collaboration for the benefit of the public.
3. Since the start of the declaration of the National State of Disaster in March 2020, in terms of the Disaster Management Act and Regulations as published, approval was obtained by the Chief Magistrates in all five regions for Provincial Traffic Services to issue infringement notices to offenders in this regard. This has been part of our daily operational mandate to enforce ever since. This mandate is carried out at all Vehicle Check Points, K78 and Inter Provincial roadblocks during regulated hours, and includes the wearing of masks and the carrying capacity of public transport vehicles.

The fluid nature of the current emergency situation means that Provincial Traffic Services have adopted a high state of preparedness to realign its operational activities should it be necessary. Should the country’s lockdown status change or additional travel restrictions be imposed, Provincial Traffic Services will be ready to respond effectively.