marshall von buchenroder

Dear MyPE Drastic action needs to be taken if we are to address the ongoing carnage on the Eastern Cape roads that is claiming the lives of thousands of loved ones across the province. This week, as we enter Transport Month, at least eight people have died and twenty-two have been seriously injured. The Democratic Alliance would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families of those who have been tragically killed in these road accidents. This tragic loss of life is … [Read more...] about More needs to be done to protect the lives of Eastern Cape road-users

Dear MyPE There needs to be more law enforcement officers on the Eastern Cape Roads to curb the spiraling death toll that is sweeping through the province, claiming the lives of loved ones. The latest data provided by the Department of Transport has revealed that just 538 law enforcement officers are employed to patrol the entire province’s provincial road network. According to the Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, the current ratio of law enforcement officers is one official for every 1553 … [Read more...] about Only 538 provincial traffic law enforcement officers employed to cover entire province

Dear MyPE Newly released statistics from the Department of Transport have revealed that 1666 people tragically lost their lives on the roads in 2018, with the most accidents and lives lost recorded in the O R Tambo district. In response to a parliamentary question Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, has now confirmed that 1666 lives were lost in 1320 crashes involving 1614 vehicles during 2018. That's more than four lives every day, lost in vehicle accidents on the province's roads! The … [Read more...] about 1666 lives lost on EC roads last year

Dear MyPE Another school holiday has passed and the carnage continues on our Eastern Cape roads, while the same promises are made, but no real action is taken. The DA repeats its call to Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, for the immediate implementation of a shift-system for 24-hour traffic law enforcement on Eastern Cape roads. Six months ago, I asked the Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, what steps or initiatives her Department had in place with a view of curbing the number of deaths on our … [Read more...] about MEC dilly-dallies on 24-hour traffic law enforcement

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape death toll on the roads over the Festive Season is a sad indictment of a failing ANC government that has neglected its responsibilities. With the second highest fatalities in the country, the province saw 238 people lose their lives in 195 car accidents. This is up from the previous season, where 213 lives were lost in 173 accidents from 1 December 2017 to 15 January 2018. It is clear MEC Weziwe Tikana’s intervention strategy has failed to reduce the number … [Read more...] about Festive Season death toll on EC roads crisis

Dear MyPE As the Festive Season gets underway, traffic safety and road fatalities will once again be in the spotlight. Unfortunately, road accidents will make this a time of great sadness, instead of a time of celebration, for many families. This also has a devastating impact on the economy, as the loss of life and injury comes at a very high cost. Between 1 December last year and January 15, 173 accidents occurred on the roads, with 213 lives lost. This is simply unacceptable. One … [Read more...] about Focus on road safety this Festive Season

Dear MyPE Provincial government officials have racked up over R1-million in traffic fines with state-owned vehicles over the past three years, showing a complete disregard for the laws of the road. In a response to a written question, Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, said officials driving state vehicles ran up fines totalling R1,141-million from April 2016 to the beginning of November this year. The reality is that these fines boil down to fruitless and wasteful expenditure by the … [Read more...] about Provinicial Government officials rack up over R1-million in traffic fines

Dear MyPE As the world stops and remembers the victims of road accidents this Sunday (18 November 2018), the Democratic Alliance would like to extend our condolences to the families of those who were tragically killed on Eastern Cape Roads. In response to a parliamentary question received this week, Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana revealed that between 2015 and 2017, 6,815 people have lost their lives in fatal car crashes in the province. Tikana said 1,613 people had died on our roads in … [Read more...] about A Shocking number of lives are being lost on Eastern Cape Roads

Dear MyPE The Department of Transport has made it clear that the safety of traffic officers in the Eastern Cape is not a primary concern, having last issued bullet proof vests to officers over eight years ago. At a time when law enforcement officers are being targeted and brutally gunned down by criminal elements, it is simply unacceptable that traffic officials have had to risk their lives on a daily basis without the necessary life-saving equipment. In response to a parliamentary … [Read more...] about Traffic officers lives not a concern to Department

Dear MyPE Looking back on National Transport Month and the initiatives launched by the province, leaves nothing to celebrate. People continue to lose their lives on our roads, children are still forced to walk to schools, Taxi violence is a common occurrence, and traffic law enforcement is basically non-existent. Anyone who has driven on our provincial roads in October will tell you that not enough is being done to address issues of stray livestock on our roads, which pose … [Read more...] about Transport Month highlights the Department’s failures

Dear MyPE Immeasurable damage is being done to our roads by overloaded trucks which are taking advantage of the non-operational Kinkelbos weighbridge station on the N2, while the MEC of Transport remains in denial. Broken and pot-holed roads are a risk to road users and businesses who rely on trucks to get their products to market. In a response to a parliamentary question, Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana gave assurances that the Kinkelbos weighbridge station situated on the outskirts of … [Read more...] about Kinkelbos Station not fully operational

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape has failed to recover a single cent of more than R110 million in outstanding traffic fines issued over the past two financial years. This despite offering an amnesty period to offenders, due to poor implementation and lack of follow-through. During her policy speech tabled in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in March, Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana announced an amnesty period for motorists who incurred traffic fines between April and September 2016, saying … [Read more...] about Three month amnesty fails to reclaim a single cent in outstanding traffic fines

Dear MyPE The Department of Transport continues to sit idly by, paying lip service and sending condolences, while the carnage on Eastern Cape roads continues to claim lives. This past weekend, at least 22 people were killed in nine separate crashes on the province’s roads, with the death toll expected to rise as critically injured individuals fight for their lives in hospitals across the province. The accidents have been attributed to reckless and negligent driving, but despite this … [Read more...] about Road death tolls climb while Department of Transport does nothing