Following the publications of Transport Directions covering the lockdown period, we started monitoring compliance this morning. We will reflect on our observations and further Directions where the need arises.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

We deployed a total of 22 347 traffic officers across the country, to ensure compliance with the published Regulations and Directions.

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and security personnel from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) are on patrol duty at Park Station.

Our National Traffic Police are working closely with the Defense Force and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in enforcing the law at the Beitbridge and the Lebombo border posts.

COMPLIANCE

We have received a number of reports of non-compliance with the Regulations and Directions governing transport movement during the lockdown period.

We received reports that in some areas in Gauteng that a number of taxis were being filled to capacity in violation of the capacity restrictions in the regulations.

Cape Town International Airport

At Cape Town International Airport, there were 3 outbound flights destined for Frankfurt in Germany, Zurich in Switzerland and Munich in Germany. Unfortunately there were 120 people who could not find seats on any of these flights. The German Consulate was at the airport and provided consular support to their nationals.

Similarly, 30 British nationals could not find seats on outbound flights and were provided with consular support by the British Consulate.

British Airways flight from London landed at King Shaka International with 30 South Africans who were escorted by Port Health to the designated quarantine site.

INCIDENTS:

There was a collision on the R56 outside Richmond, in KwaZulu Natal. The crash was a head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a truck occurred in the early hours of the morning, at around 02:00 this morning. Six people (including the taxi driver) died on the scene and nine others were injured. The minibus-taxi was from Gauteng and was filled to capacity. The RTMC has launched an investigation to determine the root cause of the crash.

There are 6 South African seafarers on a cruise ship Queen Elizabeth II, currently at anchor in Durban. These South Africans want to disembark and return home. However, our Regulations do not allow crew changes at any of our ports, even if these are South Africans. The Queen Elizabeth II is waiting for clearance to enter the port in order to refuel and take provisions. This is a matter we are urgently considering.

A male cyclist was arrested this morning for contravening the Disaster Management Regulations, by cycling on the M1 South freeway near Southgate. The cyclist told officials that he was attempting to cycle to Cape Town. He has been detained at the Mondeor Police Station.

ROAD INCIDENTS

On R420 between Lady Frere and Queenstown, a bakkieoverturned this afternoon resulting in 1 serious injury.

At about 20 minutes past midnight, a sedan car lost controland hit a tree on the R52 between Lichtenburg and Kosterin the North-West. 1 serious injury was reported.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

The National Traffic Police and South African Police Service have closed the N1 North from Carousel towards Limpopo, as a measure to enforce compliance. Only essential traffic and commercial vehicles are allowed passage.

Personnel at our toll plazas are not classified as essential staff and as a consequence, the concessionaires have opened all the toll plazas.

The taxi industry has raised concern relating to the requirement that passengers in a taxi cannot exceed 50% of its legal capacity. We will look into the matter and find a solution that does not undermine the purpose of the lockdown or compromise the principle of social distance.

We have taken note of concerns raised by industry of limiting the movement of cargo only to essential cargo. We have therefore resolved this matter and all cargo will be allowed passage.

NEW DIRECTIONS

We are in the process of issuing new directions covering transitional arrangements relating to drives’ and learners’ licensing issues.

Issued by Ayanda Allie Paine on behalf of Minister of Transport, 27 March 2020