As part of commemorating Transport Month and ensuring road safety, Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane encourages road users especially those who own vehicles to frequently use public transport. According to him, if people use public transport, vehicles on the road will be fewer, and that will contribute to the reduction of road crashes.
In support of his appeal, Ngomane yesterday (04 October 2017) took a taxi to work. He left Mbombela very early morning in a taxi to Malalane, then another one to Naas in Nkomazi.
Although the MEC encourages people to use public transport, he also makes a call to public transport owners to ensure that their vehicles are always in good condition and that their drivers are fit to transport people.
During his trip yesterday, the MEC met briefly with the taxi association in the taxi rank in Naas. He mentioned to the taxi owners that he always receive complaints from community members about the bad treatment they receive from some taxi drivers.
He pleaded with the taxi owners to ensure that the lives of commuters are prioritized to stimulate the idea of public transport usage to those who own cars.
“Make this business attractive and beneficial also to commuters by keeping high standards and ensuring safety at all times. In this way, we will see more people resorting to public transport than driving their own cars every day,” he said.
Responding to the MEC, Mr. Joseph Mnisi who is Chairperson of the Lebombo Taxi Association said that they do always encourage safety because the death of people is the death of their business.
“We care a lot about the lives of our commuters and we prioritize their needs first; that is why we discipline drivers who do not comply with the laws and those who do not treat commuters well,” he said.
Meanwhile, MEC Ngomane yesterday started with the renovations of Mdzabu High School in Nkomazi Local Municipality, a school he attended during the 1970’s.
The renovations are carried out by parolees from the Department of Correctional Service and local people who are assisting the MEC on voluntary basis. MEC Ngomane says he is supporting the school because he believes that education is the key for success.
According to Ngomane, one of the major reasons for this project is to promote the culture of learning and teaching especially in rural areas such as Masibekela. MEC Ngomane was concerned with the condition of the school after it was built in the late 1970s. He says learners have the right to learn under a conducive environment so that their academic results could be favourable.
School Governing Body Chairperson, Mr. Alpheus Manzini said that they will ensure that the school is cleaned on regular basis to maintain the changes effected by the renovations. Some of the things done at the school include painting the walls, putting up ceiling and cleaning the classrooms .
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