Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has welcomed the implementation of the Operation Hlokomela road safety campaign in collaboration with the taxi industry this festive season.
Operation Hlokomela aims to promote road safety, including through inspections and roadblocks in partnership with the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).
Provincial spokesperson for the Department of Transport, Kwanele Ncalane said they were pleased about the operation that is currently under way.
“We are fully in support of Operation Hlokomela. The taxi industry is one of the mass movers of people. In the country, about 20 million people use taxis every day, especially the working class and the poor,” Ncalane explained.
He added that voluntary compliance in the taxi industry was commendable, as the onus to make sure that road safety rules were followed should not rest solely on the department.
Ncalane said this was a joint venture between the taxi industry and the department.
“We are going to be supporting them with the necessary manpower, where we will be working together with traffic officials, the municipality and the participants of Operation Hlokomela,” he said.
Ncalane said training for Hlokomela had already been provided to the independent stakeholders on how to inspect the roadworthiness of vehicles, and that campaigns on road safety would be intensified.
Sifiso Shangase, spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said the taxi owners who would be participating in these evaluations had received basic training in various areas such as Basic Evaluation and Road inspection from the Department of Transport and KZN RTI.
Visibility of these officials can be expected primarily around taxi ranks, and on local roads, he added.
He said that disciplinary measures such as fines would be implemented on those who broke the law and that they would be rated against the level of transgression.
Operation Hlokomela was launched to improve the safety of the drivers and passengers, while strengthening customer care and responsible driving.
THE MERCURY