Admin
05 Dec, 2019
Call to keep South Africa rubbish-free over the Festive Season
As we approach the annual exodus where most South Africans return to their homes in the rural areas, and travel to holiday destinations, to take a rest period and celebrate the Festive Season, we are confronted with the usual littering along our roads. Travelers tend to throw garbage out of car and taxi windows, and this makes for an ugly sight, especially along our coastlines and heavily travelled routes e.g. Viedgesville to Coffee Bay/Hole in the Wall and Mthatha to Port St. John’s. Not only is this bad for our environment, but it negatively affects tourism. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) therefore call on all passengers and drivers alike to keep a container in their vehicles to dispose of rubbish inside the vehicles and then, to throw that away at the first bin marked for refuse at a rest stop. We call on people to not dispose of rubbish and building material at random spots along the roads at the outskirts of towns, but to take such rubble and waste to sites allocated for such disposal. Please go the extra mile and do the right thing. There is also a tendency of shop owners and businesses to dump packaging material, like cardboard boxes, on the pavements next to their premises. This must practice must come to an end. It is imperative that municipalities step-up their cleaning and waste disposal regime and double their efforts to keep our towns and cities clean over December and January. On 18 December, the UDM will drive a clean-up exercise in the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) and Nyandeni municipalities and we invite all and sundry to take part. We have been in communication with the mayors, speakers and city managers of KSD and Nyandeni and call upon them to champion this initiative. We therefore ask that the managements in these municipalities make refuse bags and trucks available to assist in the cleaning process. Donations of bags and other cleaning materials are most welcome and shop owners and any private individuals are encouraged to contact us. We also appeal to truck and bakkie owners to take part in this clean-up drive. We call on councillors and the local communities to avail themselves and participate actively in this cleaning exercise. Released by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP
Admin
30 Oct, 2018
Increased fatalities on SA roads not acceptable
The high number of fatalities on our roads over the past few weeks is disturbing. What is of greater concern is that these accidents happened during Transport Month, which amongst others, was looking at curbing road fatalities. Year on year far too many travellers do not reach their destinations and as people gear up for the festive season we hope that this year’s statistics will show a decline in accidents and fatalities. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) calls on all road users to take greater care and responsibility whilst using our highways and byways. Also, it is high time that taxi drivers take responsibility for the lives they carry. Drunk driving and jaywalking must stop. All vehicles must be roadworthy especially those that carry passengers; not only are passengers at risk but also those who are driving around one. The UDM calls on traffic departments to be more visible as we get closer to the period where road usage peaks. All stakeholders, drivers included, must do more to ensure that this year we reach a zero-rate for road accidents. Issued by: Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
Admin
07 Dec, 2017
Annual festive season road fatalities: arrive alive
As the festive season approaches, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) dreads the annual increase in road injuries and fatalities during this period; especially since we have already seen some dreadful accidents, particularly in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, and the festive season is not yet in full swing. The months of December and January see the busiest time on our highways and byways with everyone excited to travel, have fun and visit loved ones at home. We are hopeful that this excitement will not be cut unnecessarily short with injuries and loss of life. The UDM calls on all road users to be responsible, vigilant, disciplined and to abide by the law. Many accidents are avoidable. We cannot continue losing lives due to the misbehaviour and ill-discipline; especially because of unroadworthy vehicles, overloading, drunk driving and jaywalking. We also hope that the authorities will not be lenient on those who break the law and put lives at risk; especially long-distance drivers who overload their vehicles. Law enforcement official must make sure that they are always visible. We wish all South Africans a wonderful December-break and safe travels. Issued by Mr Bongani Msomi, UDM Secretary General
