To download the soundbite of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Selelo Selamolela, click here: https://iono.fm/e/1508216
The Portfolio Committee on Transport participated in the Economics Cluster media briefing held at Parliament. The Chairperson, Mr Selelo Selamolela, addressed the media on the following key issues:
- Festive Season Road Safety Plan
- Oversight on the Comprehensive Road Safety Strategy
- Merchant Shipping Bill
Mr Selamolela informed the media that the committee had productive engagements with the Department of Transport and its entities on their annual and performance reports for the 2024/25 financial year. These entities included the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Transnet, the Railway Safety Regulator, Airports Company South Africa, Air Traffic and Navigation Services, South African Civil Aviation Authority, the South African National Road Agency Limited, the Road Traffic Management Corporation, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency, the Driving Licence Card Account, the South African Maritime Safety Authority and the Ports Regulator.
The Chairperson commended the department for submitting its annual reports on time, in compliance with the Public Finance Management Act. However, he noted that two entities, Transnet and South African Airways, submitted their reports separately, as they were previously under the Department of Public Enterprises but now fall under the portfolio committee’s oversight.
Since its establishment, the committee has conducted oversight visits to all the entities in its portfolio. These visits included a briefing from the department on the Revised Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, which aims to address challenges such as the inadequate scrapping allowance for old taxi vehicles.
Infrastructure extortion
Mr Selamolela highlighted the issue of extortion related to major road and rail infrastructure projects, which continues to be a serious challenge. He assured the media that the South African Police Service, alongside other relevant stakeholders, is actively addressing the problem. He referred to the Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Extortion, announced by the Minister of Police in Parliament in July, as a significant step forward. The Chairperson called on all South Africans to join the fight against extortion and other crimes, noting the progress made in implementing the strategy so far.
Festive Season Road Safety Plan
The Chairperson also briefed the media on the Festive Season Road Safety Plan, which the committee described as the “best” to date. The department assured the committee that all available resources and stakeholders are being deployed to promote safety on South African roads. Under the call “Let’s arrive alive”, the plan aims to reduce road fatalities and ensure safer travel during the festive season.
Legislative Focus
In the area of legislation, the committee is currently considering the Merchant Shipping Bill, which seeks to comprehensively overhaul South Africa’s maritime sector. Additionally, the committee is working on the Economic Regulation of Transport (ERT) Bill.
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