(Government Gazette 33996, 4 February 2011)

Draft regulations in terms of the National Land Transport Act (5/2000) have been published for public comment. These regulations offer important emerging space for engagement with the shape of provincial and local level transport policies and their ability to meet the structural transport barriers faced by many vulnerable people in South Africa, including pregnant women and women with young children. The call for comment is an ideal opportunity for the young child sector to raise the concerns and transport requirements necessary to ensure safe and accessible transport for access to a full range of early childhood development services.

Written comments must be submitted in writing by the 18th of March 2011 to the Director-General, Department of Transport.

They may be addressed to: Mr Muzi Simelane, Private Bag X 193, Pretoria 001; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; tel: 012 309 3002; fax: 012 323 9370; or: Mr Hament Patel, Department of Transport, Private Bag X193, Pretoria, 0001; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; tel: 012 309 3276; fax: 012 323 9370.

The draft regulations articulate the principles to be applied in the determination, formulation, development and application of land transport policy at all levels of government in South Africa. These include the following:

• Public transport must be planned so as to provide affordable transport to the public, subject to budget limitations.
• It must be planned so that subsidies are aimed to assist currently marginalised users and those who have poor access to transport services.
• The minimisation of distances that passengers have to walk to reach stations, bus stops, taxi ranks and other points of access to public transport.
• Safety and effective law enforcement must be promoted.
• The needs of special categories of passengers must be considered and their access to public transport must be maximised, within budgetary constraints.
• Participation of all interested parties, including vulnerable and disadvantaged persons, in transport planning must be promoted.
• Plan to enhance the effective functioning of cities and rural areas.
• Promote access to basic facilities and services such as schools, clinics, pension pay points and shops with due attention to rural areas.
• Pay due attention to rural areas and support and stimulate economic growth and development.
• Transport plans and programmes must be synchronised with other planning initiatives and must be indicated how they are integrated into relevant integrated development plans.

In regard to the latter principle calling for integrated planning when developing transport policy, the regulations make provision for Internodal Planning Committees which are responsible for all aspects of integrated transport

WEB LINKS FOR THIS ARTICLE

Draft Land Transport Regulations open to comment