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Lack of proper road markings and signages causes R101 to become a high accident zone

Motorists using the R101 road in Tshwane are at risk of having their vehicles severely damaged because the road is in a terrible state and is littered with potholes.

The road is also prone to motor vehicle accidents as there are no clear road markings and the yield sign that was put up has been stolen.

We discovered this during our oversight inspection of the road this morning.

Please see the pictures here, here and here.

According to the local ward councillor, four serious accidents occurred on this road alone this month.

While doing our oversight inspection, we witnessed how two cars nearly collided because of the lack of road signage.

It is unacceptable that nearly a year after the former Gauteng MEC for Transport, Jacob Mamabolo, promised that new road markings would be painted on this road surface, this has never happened.

The DA demands that the MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Daile, must as a matter of urgency ensure that adequate signages are erected on this road and that the road markings are redone.

The DA will also be submitting written questions to the MEC Daile to determine what plans are in place to upgrade this road properly.

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DA pressure forces GPG to hand over Moloto Road to Sanral for upgrades and maintenance

The Gauteng portion of Moloto will finally be handed over to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) at the end of the month.

This comes after the DA in Gauteng put pressure on the MEC for Roads and Transport, Jacob Mamabolo to hand over the Gauteng portion of the road.

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport does not have the capacity nor the budget to ensure that this road is upgraded.

Sanral plans to upgrade Moloto Road from a single lane road to a double lane road.

This road runs through the Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces.

Mpumalanga and Limpopo have already handed over their stretches of road to Sanral for the upgrades.

This road has a high accident rate especially over Easter and Christmas time.

Currently this road does not have any street lights and has no clear road signs.

I will continue to monitor the progress of the upgrade of this road as we cannot afford to have any more lives lost on this road.

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Veereniging Taxi Strike: Gauteng government has lost control

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on the MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, to urgently engage with Veereniging taxi-owners and operators, who have closed roads due to an incomplete taxi rank and the poor state of roads, which damage their vehicles and put commuters in harm’s way.

This has resulted in workers not being able to get to work, or having to use their hard-earned money to make alternative transport plans.

The Emfuleni Municipality must ensure that the upgrading of taxi ranks is included in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) so that funds can be allocated from provincial government for any upgrades that are needed.

While everyone has the right to protest, residents who live in the area should not be put in a situation where they are unable to go to work.

Residents of Gauteng deserve a public transport system that is safe, reliable and affordable.

It is clear that the current government in Gauteng is unable to provide this basic service to its residents.

It is up to the outgoing ANC government, mismanaged by David Makhura, to ensure the safety of Gauteng residents and engage with the taxi associations. The ANC cannot continue to turn a blind eye to situation which is further crippling the economy and the ability to create much-needed jobs.

Real change will only come to Gauteng when the people vote for change on 8 May.

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DA urges MEC Vadi to urgently resolve Gauteng taxi violence

by Fred Nel MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport

For far too long Gauteng has been experiencing taxi violence, which is putting the lives of our people at risk on a daily basis.

In response to the taxi violence incidents that have been occurring across the province, both the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and Community Safety have not done enough to find a lasting solution.

In the latest incident four people were killed and six others injured at the Tsakane taxi rank. It has been reported that a shooting incident took place after members of the Brakpan Taxi Association met to resolve complaints they had. See picture here.

The MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, announced that Tsakane taxi rank would be closed until the dispute over operating routes is resolved.

Last year, the MEC suspended the Witwatersrand African Taxi Owners Association’s (Wata) operating rights in Soweto after violence erupted between Wata and the Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association. Both these organisations were competing for routes.

In January this year taxi violence erupted between the Zonkizizwe Taxi Association (Zota) and the Katlehong People’s Taxi Association (Kapta) over operating routes.

It is unfortunate that the taxi rank in Tsakane has been closed, as commuters now need to find alternate transport, which they can ill afford.

The DA is calling on both the MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and the MEC for Roads and Transport to work together to ensure that the dispute over operating routes is resolved as a matter of urgency and that commuters who depend on taxis to get to and from work are kept safe.

We will continue to monitor this situation as it is high-time that our people are given access to safe and reliable public transport.

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Lights to Shine Again on Atlas Road

Lights on Atlas RoadGraham Gersbach DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Roads

After years of constant persistence by the DA in the Gauteng Legislature and DA Ward Councillor, Andre du Plessis, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, has finally instructed departmental officials to ensure the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) repair the lights on Atlas Road in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport

While I have received confirmation that work has begun on this stretch of road, MEC Vadi has failed to provide a completion date for the project.

This is most likely as a result of previous timelines having not been adhered to.

The MEC has, on numerous occasions in the past, provided completion dates for repairs to lighting on this stretch of road, all of which were never met.

While the DA is pleased that MEC Vadi has finally taken action, I will request that we are provided with a detailed work plan that outlines the roll out and completion of this project.

 

Media Enquiries:

Graham Gersbach MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Roads

060 556 4346

[Image source]