The Minister should use public transport for a week and rive a vehicle himself for another. Maybe this will open his mind a bit further. Theoretically he is right practically NOBODY enforces the laws. Status quo!

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May I point out that a young boy lies brain damaged in hospital - victim of a government blue light convoy. Thers have been shot at and run off the road by these self same bullies. A fish rots from the head. Why don't you and your ministers start by setting an example. Do this by enforcing a rule that blue light convoys MUST be driven at the legal speed limit. Once this is done, come back and lecture the public on obeying the rules of the road.

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How PATHETIC can you be? People want to go home and rest. There are no choices when you wait in line for an hour. Get out of your Merc and smell the rank. Get your own Dept in order and get these drivers off the roads the first time.

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Well said Lesirela. That is the best suggestion that I have heard. Sadly though, there aren't any police officers who would be prepared to do the job, because as soon as they nailed a driver committing the offence, they would be lynched by "the mob" at home the following day!

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Adding to Graham's comment, in New Zealand they even tell you on radio and local newspapers, where speed camera's are going to be set up, on which days and what times. Speed camera's are placed at the back of a station wagon with the back open and clearly visible on dangerous sections of road where speed has to be reduced. Speed camera's are used to prevent accidents, however in SA, speed camera's are a huge source of collecting revenue for local municipalities and nothing else. Three simple things have to happen to change the attitude of drivers: 1. Implement new drivers licence procedures like Australia or New Zealand. 2. Far harsher fines and including higher fines in relation to ones financial status or wealth, including the demerit points system. 3. Law enforcement which I view as the biggest problem, requires a huge shake up, so that all traffic laws are properly enforced and traffic officers earn the respect of drivers. Any traffic offence should be viewed in a serious light and not just speeding with zero tolerance.

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The Government needs to seriously take the Taxi Association to task over their lax attitude towards responsible and safe transportation. People inside taxis are breadwinners and scholarsstudents and so many of them die needlessly thanks to reckless drivers who know no boundaries. Motorcyclists also need to check themselves as they tend to be maniacs especially during heavy traffic. I agree with Mr. Ndebele, beside policing, people need to change.

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Start with your, and your Ministerial colleagues, own Blue Light Convoys Mr.Minister...You talk the talk, but fail to walk the walk.

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New Zealand is an example of what can be achieved if you are serious about road safety. For 2011, NZ had 284 deaths on the road, which was just over 100 fewer than 2010, and the lowest number since 1952. Now that is achieving something in regards to road safety. It is daft to talk about zero road deaths, that will never happen Mr Ndebele, talk sense, talk about REDUCING the deaths on the road. But as we have very low police visibility on our roads, this will never happen. NZ has genuine "Zero Tolerance", if you break a law, you will either be fined, or appear before a Judge and in both cases incur demerit points on your licence. But when your police force don't set an example and buckle up themselves, road safety is a lost cause.

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Minister Ndebele, I would urge you to post undercover metro police INSIDE public transportS who would have license to force the driver to stop and release passengers from their vehicle, and not to expect us (un-united passengers) to risk confrontation with taxi drivers and their taxi mobs. Experience has shown that those who raise concerns with taxi drivers are isolated from the rest of the passengers by the fellow passengers ourselves and that puts you on the island where the taxi driver will deal with you (if he can square up with you), of cause more often with his invite his fellow taxi-panga wilding mob. Not that we are cowards, but please don’t shirk your responsibilities , we pay you and so do the job. Otherwise why pay you if we must still do the job ourselves. Also, will you also fill the potholes and build humps on our roads where lives have and continue to be unnecessarily lost, especially rural areas like Mogorwane in Jane Furse.

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What do you expect when taxi bosses say "we don't break the rules, we bend them!" Remove the rotten apples first.

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I am not South African and therefore not very familiar with politics and politicians here, but one thing I know: the attitude of drivers has to change to make the roads safer. It's easy to make someone 'responsible', but it's all of us combined who cause accidents. When I first came from Europe I would obey all the traffic signs, but now I drive faster than I should, don't always stop at stop signs and some other small infractions. It didn't take me long to adopt the driver's mentality of this country. Let's be objective; it's not only the taxis and blue-light cars that put others in danger on the roads. Maybe it's a case of 'what's right' and not 'who is right'. If Mr. Ndebele is trying to bring about positive change, why not support him? This country needs to change in a lot of ways, and if politicians are taking steps in the right direction I think they can use all the support they can get!

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Change the policing to change the culture! Cops hiding berhind bushes with cameras don't prevent moving offences! These are the real killers!

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YES, I agree that the government is hypocritical – what being part of the blue light brigade, etc. YES, I agree that a reliable public transport network must be implemented in order for real change to come about. YES, I agree that we need better law enforcement on the roads. BUT – until then, we as individuals have the power to change our immediate environment. WE as the customer create the market & the money for the taxi industry. Believe me; a bad taxi boss informal marshall taxi driver cannot intimidate a crowd when we all stand together for the greater good. And when we choose a SAFE taxi & driver over a bad one, – it’ll hit them where it hurts. Their wallets. Believe me, then we’ll see changes!! We can’t continue to play the role of victims in South Africa. We have to take the power back! COME ON SOUTH AFRICA - WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

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Hey Ndebele, while you at it tell the government to change there culture and fix the roads.

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Uhm... am I the only one who spotted a huge flaw in this? Now what is someone supposed to do while they are IN a taxi driving at break-neck speed? To say that they must refuse to be driven in such a car is pathetic. People who travel in taxis have no alternative, remember that Sibusiso, and it is because of you and your crew who have allowed this situation to develop with your fear of the taxi industry. What do you care while you and your cronies get the blue light treatment and dont actually feel the anger and frustration of fellow road users... and you know absolutely NOTHING of what taxi users have to endure. Do you, Sibusiso, have to wait in the cold of winter or the heat of summer to catch a taxi along with many hundreds of other people? Do you, Sibusiso, have to be squeezed in amongst 20 odd people on ONE taxi? Do you, Sibusiso, have even the slightest clue of what you are talking about??? If you did, Sibusiso, you would incorporate a public transport system that is enforceable, that is safe, that has a fare suitable for the majority of our people... and then BAN ALL TAXIS all together. But why would you even consider such a thing, hmmm?

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I agree with Ndebele about changing road culture. Let us start with the fat cats and their blue light tendencies!! Monkey see, monkey do! Regulate the taxi industry and give them spot fines. This of course won't happen as they are the ANCorrupt's mafia arm. So where do we go from here? There is always lots of talk but no action from the ANCorrupt. Finished and klaar!!

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I applaud the intention for safer vehicles, however, what has happend to clearly marked roads, understanding of road markings and road signage. I use the R55 to the M14 highway everyday, the speed limit is 80kms, the norm is however to travel at 120kms or more. People are quite rude when you stop properly at a stop street, don't know how to behave when traffic lights are out. Does the ministry not think re-education would be an answer?

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CULTURE - Something in our culture needs to change when we "believe" that mere mortals can raise from the dead !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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You, YOU, YOU! allowed that to happen. When other road users complained about taxis, YOU did nothing. YOU allowed the situation to deteriorate. Now people who work for me are FORCED to take an unsafe taxi, otherwise the informal marshals PREVENT them from taking any taxi. Al because of YOUR (ANC) incompetence at managing a country, and refusal to heed good advice. Now YOU want US to fix the problem YOU caused. I am so frustrated with how the ANC is messing up this country, with my fellow black citizens suffering under the worst of that incompetence.

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SA's appalling lack of "road culture" was started by the minibus taxi drivers who have no culture or manners at all. The SA motorist then thought if the taxi drivers can get away with it why not me the ordinary motorist. That's how the lawlessness on SA roads started. No road manners at all by all motorists is the end result.

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