​Thembisa Shologu
The Department of Roads and Transport has launched the Easter Road Safety Campaign to create awareness during a season characterised mainly by high traffic volumes.
The campaign theme, "Ethoma ka wena," encourages drivers to reflect on how their drinking and driving impact other people's lives.  
It aims to raise consciousness around the dangers posed by drunken driving, speeding, driver fatigue, poor pedestrian visibility, unroadworthy vehicles, and the non-use of seatbelts.
Speaking to the media during the launch at the N12 Provincial Highway in Slovo Park City, MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela pointed out that the government's efforts are not limited to this season but continue throughout the year.
"We are not doing it only in Easter; we continue to do it throughout the year, but this is a period where we see a high rate of fatalities involving individuals. 
"It is not just about the bodies; these are people that are important in our families, these are people that are important in our communities and society; we lose many other people who are very important to ensure the growth of SA's economy that is why all of us are out to spread the message," said MEC  Diale-Tlabela.
Diale-Tlabela reassured the law enforcers that they were with them, urging them to continue working hard to reduce the number of fatalities on the road. 
She sent a stern warning to the taxi industry following violent ongoing fights within the sector, leading to the deaths of innocent bystanders.
"We are determined, and we are saying enough is enough with taxi violence in the province, and we have pronounced to everybody in the sector that we are invoking Section 91. 
"To the taxi industry, we plead with you, this must stop. It has been going on for a very long time. 189 bodies in 12 months is a lot, and we cannot continue business as usual," she warned. 
The MEC said that following a recent meeting with the industry's provincial and regional leaders, she was comforted that all parties agreed to cease fire. 
She said the provincial government has tasked the association chairpersons with communicating the message that they have had enough of this behaviour.
"I must say that we are comforted and very happy that the provincial and regional leaders in the industry met with us; they are meeting chairpersons of the associations where there is conflict to communicate our message that enough is enough, and we can no longer continue like this. 
"We will close the taxi ranks for six months whether there are death threats or not. We want to see who is mightier. Is it us, the people of Gauteng, who do not want taxi violence, or is it those who enjoy and benefit," said the MEC.