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29 Nov 2010

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has welcomed COSATU's stand on the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act.

"We welcome the stand taken by Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) on AARTO. The Department of Transport has long been engaging and will continue to engage with all stakeholders regarding the implementation of AARTO. As government, we welcome partnerships with various formations including organised labour, business, the religious community and civil society to end the carnage on our roads," said Minister Ndebele.

The Statement of the COSATU Central Executive Committee, 22 to 24 November 2010 reads as follows: "COSATU supports measures that will end the carnage on our roads by punishing offenders and ending the culture of impunity. Workers should however not be punished for the non-roadworthiness of the vehicles that do not belong to them. The demerits system must punish owners and not workers.

SATAWU appealed for support for their campaign against AARTO, especially its impact on truck, bus and taxi drivers who face the possibility of losing their licences and therefore their jobs under the provisions of the demerit system. Many employers impose time limits for journeys, which can only be met by speeding.

The CEC expressed support for SATAWU but decided to unpack the provisions of the new Act, some of which seek to crack down on speeding and the use of unroadworthy vehicles, and streamline the collection of fines, which aim to reduce the number of accidents and save lives. COSATU welcome the postponement of the implementation of AARTO until all legitimate concerns have been addressed."

Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050

Issued by: Department of Transport
29 Nov 2010

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