Hlengwa tells MPs state of SA roads ‘dire’
Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa has described the structural integrity of the country’s roads as dire.
South Africa’s roads are notoriously dangerous over the festive season as thousands of South Africans travel to their various holiday destinations.
In 2023, a total of 1,427 people lost their lives on South Africa's roads during the December / January period.
Hlengwa and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) briefed Parliament’s transport committee on its festive season road safety plan.
“This plan seeks to move the needle from the worst-case scenario to the desired reality, which is zero deaths,” Hlengwa told MPs.
He also expressed concern about the use of traffic apps to avoid roadblocks.
“Apps have pros and cons; we noticed that whenever there is a roadblock, app users divert it – so it’s counterproductive. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, it borders on illegality,” Hlengwa said.
The committee also heard that non-roadworthy vehicles will be removed from the country's roads ahead of the festive season.
RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi stated that fraudulent activities have been uncovered in the bus industry.
“We have discontinued a number of buses. This inspection revealed some of the fraudulent activities happening within the bus companies, amongst others, the non-payment of licenses, using some of the intermediaries to register unroadworthy buses.”
Msibi also revealed that pre-inspections in the truck industry uncovered similar issues to those in the bus industry.
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