Transport Month has seen the Portfolio Committee enhancing its oversight activities by paying visit to projects, transport facilities, and even schools across the province from eThekwini, Muziwabantu to Mnambithi Municipalities. PPRASA offices in Durban, Mdlangathi, Nkanyezi KaManchi and Colenso Combined Primary schools in Harding and Ladysmith respectively were part of the schools covered by the oversight visits, particularly to inspect learner transport.

Hon Moodley and Kaunda doing bus inspection in Ladysmith.

Hon Kaunda gathering information from one of the bus drivers. Behind Hon Moodley carries on with the inspection.

The Committee expressed disappointment at the condition of buses used by learners to attend schools. Broken windows, defects in wipers, brake lights, were just a few of many faults found in the buses. However the buses at Colenso Primary schools seemed to be in better conditions compared to buses inspected in Harding. In both schools the Committee instructed the Road Transport Inspectorate to inspect the buses and provide a report as a matter of urgency, and these reports would be shared with the Department of Transport for speedy

Members of the Committee inspect road D911 and D912 KwaMachi after which they proceeded to the KwaMachi Traditional Council to a stakeholders meeting.

A visit to a newly constructed permits center for taxi owners in Ladysmith has been welcome by all for the impact it has on the industry. “If you have forgotten any documents, you are able to go back home and come back immediately to finalise your application for a permit, and get back to business”, unlike when it was centralised in Durban, said the Chairperson of the Taxi Industry in Uthukela.

Delivering the opening remarks in Ladysmith where all stakeholders in the transport sector were present, Hon Kaunda said, “no solutions can be found through the barrel of the gun, why fight over taxi routes, this land cannot be stretched to accommodate more routes so why can’t we accept that”. This is a black run business that we can be proud of, however, this cannot be a lucrative business if we fight over routes”.

There are other business ventures that we can explore, workshops for taxis, you can go out and seek funding for such ventures. Let’s stop violence, and focussing on growing the business. He added that business owners must negotiate with commuters when they are to increase taxi fares so that communities feel part of the industry. “We would like to see that, dialogue takes place and ensure that there is good working relations between yourselves and your clients”, Kaunda concluded.

Hon Shelembe takes down finer details as he inspects the bus, capturing finer details from the bus driver.

In keeping with its mandate of involving the public in the work of the committee, the Health Portfolio Committee has been holding a series of public meetings in various municipalities to consult with the people to seek solutions and strategies of dealing with health challenges facing the province.

According to the government’s National Strategic Plan on HIV and sexually transmitted infections, 39% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in South Africa, fall pregnant at least once. Almost half of the teenage mothers fall pregnant again within two years of giving birth, the report shows.

Through the Health Portfolio committee led by Hon. Lizzy Shabalala, the Legislature has been involved in campaigns that seek to create awareness on HIV/Aids and teenage pregnancy in poor communities in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. This multiparty committee, together with the provincial Health Department, has visited several communities holding public meetings with the aim of encouraging parents to take initiatives that ensure the safety and wellbeing of their children.

Hon. Shabalala seen here with some Members of the committee addressing the community on matters relating to HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy

The partnership programme between the Legislature and Department of Health targets parents, social groups and other relevant stakeholders. The public is made aware of these social ills through presentations and one-on-one interactions.  Medical practitioners from Department of Health led by Dr Thami Mayise, focus on the issue of teenage pregnancy, child pregnancy, male circumcision as the contributing factor to the high increase in the number of HIV/AIDS infected persons in the province.

Dr Masiye, defined teenage pregnancy as a teenage girl, usually within the ages of 13-19, becoming pregnant whilst 12 years and less would then be considered as child pregnancy which is considered to be a worse scenario. Teenage pregnancy is a major public health concern in South Africa with more than 1/3 of SA women experiencing 1^st birth by the age of 18years. Learner pregnancies are more concentrated in provinces that are mostly rural in nature like Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpompo.

“These social ills should not be a concern for government alone, but parents and the society at large need to join hands with government in fighting these social ills. The public is encouraged to do constant HIV testing, males to circumcise, and to make use of the A,B,C health precaution measures which reads: “Abstain, Be faithful and Condomise” said committee chairperson, Hon. Lizzy Shabalala.

The public was also afforded an opportunity to voice their concerns with regard to the health issues. The issue of lack of education about the epidemic came out very strongly during public interaction sessions. Access to ARVs and female condoms is still a challenge in rural communities. Shocking statistics have revealed that in the year 2014 alone, teenage/child/leaner pregnancy grew up to 19 000 in KwaZulu-Natal alone.

The public was encouraged to go to police stations and report those who infect others with HIV intentionally, so that they will be charged with attempted murder. “Intentionally infecting a person with HIV is regarded as a gross criminal activity that is punishable in our law” said Hon. Linda Hlongwa, a member of the Health Portfolio Committee.

These meetings resolved to establish a team of volunteers called Operation Mukela which will be headed by Department of Health. Its aim will be to fight the stigma that is attached to HIV/AIDS.