Mobility Minister meets Garden Route Municipalities and Stakeholders

Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, and senior managers of the Department visited Plettenberg Bay, George, Knysna, Sedgefield and Mossel Bay, in the Garden Route on Monday and Tuesday, 26 and 27 August 2024.

The Minister met with senior politicians and officials of municipalities and transport sector stakeholders to discuss transport and mobility related matters that are a priority for the Minister.

He, amongst other matters, discussed, with municipalities, the devolution of transport and mobility powers, from national to provincial to local governments.

Monday kicked off with a visit to the regional office of Traffic and Law Enforcement in Plettenberg Bay. The head of the Regional Office accompanied the Minister to various local mobility facilities.

The Minister and the regional management discussed the challenges facing the local office, as well as the execution of mobility mandates and opportunities to strengthen road safety through law enforcement and traffic control.

The Minister, amongst others, visited the vehicle licensing and registration centres, as well as the driver's license office. He did an eye test and the procedures to obtain or renew drivers’ licences were explained to him.

Next on the programme was a visit to a roadblock in Knysna. The Minister, at the roadblock, met traffic officials and members of the public. He had a lengthy discussion with a member of the public and showed his willingness to engage with drivers of vehicles and the public in general.

"I thank the local officials for their commitment to conduct law enforcement on the roads of the Garden Route. We are facing serious congestion and reckless driving threats on our roads, and many of them lead to fatalities. I am especially concerned about the number of people who drive under the influence. They are causing the deaths of many people, and we cannot allow it to continue. Subsequently law enforcement will tighten the screws to get drunken drivers of the roads", commented Minister Sileku.

The Minister said law enforcement must also bolster their actions to reduce the large number of pedestrian deaths. “People cannot always afford formal transport, and many must walk. We refer to this as non-motorised transport and we must drive in a manner that will protect them."

Minister Sileku then visited the Executive Mayor, Councillor Aubrey Tsengwa; Speaker, councillors, and the municipal manager of Knysna Municipality.

The Mobility department made a short presentation to the municipal office bearers and explained the mandates of mobility and the advantages of a fully integrated transport network.

The Minister said that he cannot favour minibus taxis at the expense of busses and other forms of transport.

“We need all members of the minibus taxi industry to transport our people and to get them to work and school and safely back to their homes,” the Minister said.

"I will work with the minibus taxi industry in a professional and even accommodative manner, as I regard and recognise them as important providers of transport. However, my key interest is the wellbeing of our residents and communities. They must have options, and it is their right to decide which mode of transport they want to use. My commitment is to facilitate a public transport network that is safer, quicker, more affordable, and reliable", he added.

The Minister concluded the business of the day with an in-depth interview with Christo Gawie of Heartbeat FM.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to talk to more than 300 000 listeners and my plea to them is to embrace the priorities of the Western Cape Mobility Department, and to strengthen our hands to serve them, to keep our children safe and to get drunk drivers off the road,” the Minister said.

On Tuesday the Minister met with a delegation of Mossel Bay municipality to discuss various matters regarding the Western Cape Mobility Department, challenges and opportunities. The Provincial Department and Municipality discussed and agreed about the road ahead on various matters:

The need for a weighbridge in Mossel Bay as the closest ones are in Swellendam, Plettenberg Bay and Beaufort West.

The need for traffic communication devices in context with the expected impact of AARTO on communication.

The integration of the Joint Operational Committee (JOC) in Mossel Bay and the Centralised Communication Centre (CCC) in George to streamline the escalation of communication, regarding crises, to the various levels of government, i.e. local municipalities, the district municipality and province.  

The provision of mobility related support to less resourced municipalities who have almost no material and capacities.

The population growth in Mossel Bay and the pressure this place on vehicle registration, licencing and testing centres.

The development of a Garden Route testing and licensing centre and the involvement of other provincial departments in this venture.

The integrated training and deployment of school patrol units.

Minister Sileku stated that most of the matters discussed involves province, district and local government.

“Most of these matters can be dealt with through an integrated governmental approach, increased communication, and in the case of a district licensing and testing centre, a joint development committee.”

“My department remains committed to cheaper, faster and safer transport for Western Cape residents” he concluded.

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