DA KZN SPOKESPERSON FOR TRANSPORT
THE Democratic Alliance in KZN has called on provincial transport MEC, Willies Mchunu, to compel departmental HOD, Chris Hlabisa, to apologise to road accident claimants, after he remarked to the media that claimants were ripping off the government and should be grateful that they had roads to travel on (see report).
DA KZN Transport spokesperson, Radley Keys has slammed Hlabisa's remarks, which come against the backdrop of an application by a KZN woman for damages after she lost part of her arm when the taxi she was travelling in hit a large pothole. "Hlabisa's remarks are a blatant attempt to trivialise the issue. What he has conveniently forgotten is that the citizens of this province pay heavy taxes to drive on roads of a passable standard. They therefore have every right to expect that roads are maintained and that glaring problems are repaired - not all of us can afford bodyguard protection in the event that we are stranded on a motorway due to an inferior road network."
Keys slammed Hlabisa's excuse, that there were no funds for road repairs, as a cop-out. "Not only has the adjusted budget, prioritising pothole repairs, not been spent, but the amount spent by this department on iZmbizo's, billboards and other vain exercises of self-glorification is scandalous. The department's own targeted repair of roads has not reached 50%, despite cutbacks on road construction in an effort to attend to road repair. This is the same department that employs 29 media officers within its communications unit - clearly the issue of road maintenance and repair is not high up on the agenda. This department is failing the entire province."
Keys said it was not for Hlabisa to insult citizens by accusing them of ‘milking the government'. "The citizens of this country have a right to exercise their prerogative by seeking legal retribution for damages, whether from the public or private sector. Hlabisa's questioning this shows a complete lack of insight - what he should be doing is defending his department and its failure to preserve our province's roads, which has resulted in the queues of people with claims."
Keys confirmed that he had raised the issue of prevention being cheaper than cure during transport portfolio committee meetings. "The choice is clear - does the HOD choose to pay R1 million for damages and be left with dangerous roads and further claims? Or does he choose to spend R1 million, which will effectively repair up to 1 000 potholes. Clearly there are none so blind as those who choose not to see." Keys said the DA would urge the MEC to compel Hlabisa to make a public apology for his thoughtless remarks and to remind him that he is, in fact, a public servant.
Statement issued by Radley Keys, MPP, Democratic Alliance KZN Spokesperson for Transport, January 27 2010
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