Mkhuleko Hlengwa urges operators and law enforcement to strengthen compliance as cross-border bus accidents continue to claim lives
The cross-border passenger transport industry plays a vital role in connecting Southern African countries, supporting tourism, trade, employment and family reunification. However, as passenger volumes continue to grow, ensuring that every journey is completed safely has become an increasingly urgent priority.
This was the central message delivered by Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa during the opening of the Cross-Border Passenger Transport Law Enforcement Workshop, where government, regulators and industry stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies to improve road safety across South Africa and the wider Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Delivering the keynote address, Hlengwa called on the cross-border bus industry to work closely with government to reduce road crashes and fatalities, emphasising that road safety is a shared responsibility.
“As partners in the business of moving multitudes of people across borders every year, we have a bigger responsibility of ensuring that we do this in a safe manner. South Africa is plagued with the scourge of fatalities as a result of avoidable road accidents due to non-adherence to the rules of the road by road users. Furthermore, in recent times, our country has experienced an increase in road accidents and fatalities caused by cross-border buses, including those from our neighbouring states, on South African roads,” said Hlengwa.
He noted that the cross-border bus sector forms an essential part of the regional economy, transporting millions of passengers annually between South Africa and neighbouring countries for work opportunities, tourism, business, education and family visits.
“The expectation from all of us is that these movements must be carried out in a safe manner that guarantees the safe arrival of all passengers at their destinations,” he said.
Hlengwa said government’s assessment of recent accidents involving cross-border buses had identified several recurring factors that continue to place passengers and other road users at risk.
These include:
*Overloading of buses travelling long distances;
*Unroadworthy vehicles operating on public roads;
*Driver fatigue caused by long-distance driving with little or no relief;
*Buses carrying cargo beyond their intended capacity, affecting vehicle stability;
*Excessive speeding; and
*Drivers operating heavy vehicles without the appropriate licences.
He stressed that addressing these challenges requires stronger compliance, improved enforcement and greater accountability throughout the transport value chain.
The Deputy Minister urged transport operators to prioritise vehicle maintenance, ensure drivers receive adequate rest, comply with licensing requirements and adhere to all road traffic regulations.
The law enforcement workshop forms part of broader efforts to improve coordination between transport authorities, regulators and enforcement agencies operating across the SADC region.
As cross-border travel continues to recover and expand, collaboration between government and the private sector will be critical in reducing preventable road accidents while ensuring the safe, efficient movement of people across the region.
Hlengwa encouraged all stakeholders to view road safety as a collective obligation, saying that protecting lives must remain at the centre of every journey undertaken on Southern Africa’s roads.