The world's least safe destinations

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Online MSN Travel UK asked nearly 3,000 British holidaymakers where they feel most and least safe, based on holidays over the last three years.</span></strong><br /><br />Read on for the countdown of top 10 places that most travellers felt least safe in.<br />After you've finished, discover which hotspots made in onto the list of places people felt most safe in.<br /></p><p><strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573357527852890818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizziK8ccgh4HC1w5mBDEWCYrdWLnxNFyhcVon6IygSHln9A1PDDuiWOgn1BU1EZ9fpPDZBe8IuooIJdSs-284Ufh14LlVhlV3vjionx6Vh1mMc43kgCGw-6T5N03c8Kczkeww6gY_9WIz/s400/bigfive-crime.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" /></strong>The countries that made it onto the top 10 list of the world's <strong>least safe</strong> destinations<br /><br />10: <strong>Dominican Republic<br /></strong>Rating: 3.9<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong>Why: Incidents of crime and violence, credit card cloning and fraud are common</strong></em>.</span><br /><br />9: <strong>Cuba</strong><br />Rating: 3.8<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Opportunistic theft is common.</span></em></strong><br /><br />8: <strong>Tunisia</strong><br />Rating: 3.6<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Recent political unrest and protests<br /></span></em></strong><br />7: <strong>Thailand</strong><br />Rating: 3.6<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Political upheaval<br /></span></em></strong><br />6: <strong>Egypt</strong><br />Rating: 3.5<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Current political turbulence<br /></span></em></strong><br />5: <strong>Dubai</strong><br />Rating: 3.4<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Cultural differences</span></em></strong><br /><br />4: <strong>Jamaica</strong><br />Rating: 3.2<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: High levels of crime and violence<br /></span></em></strong><br />3: <strong>Bulgaria</strong><br />Rating: 2.5<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Over-charging and robberies<br /></span></em></strong><br />2: <strong>South Africa<br /></strong>Rating: 2<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: High level of crime, many fatal road accidents.</span></em></strong><br /><br />1: <strong>Mexico</strong><br />Rating: 1.8<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: High level of drug-related violence, criminal activity, armed robberies & theft. </span></em></strong></p><p>The countries that made it onto the top 10 list of the world's <strong>safest destinations</strong><br /><br />10: <strong>Switzerland</strong> - Rating: 7.1<br />9: <strong>Singapore</strong> - Rating: 7.4<br />8:<strong> Italy - </strong>Rating: 7.6<br />7: <strong>Florida</strong> - Rating: 7.9<br />6: <strong>Australia</strong> - Rating: 8<br />5: <strong>Denmark</strong> - Rating: 8<br />4: <strong>New Zealand - </strong>Rating: 8.3<br />3: <strong>Cyprus</strong> - Rating: 9.4<br />2:<strong> France - </strong>Rating: 9.5<br />1: <strong>Spain</strong> - Rating: 9.8<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">WHY? For all reasons South Africa is NOT!<br /></p></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">safety and wellbeing are of prime importance<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">...has one of the world's highest personal and property safety records.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">crime rates are low, good healthcare, efficient transport, multilingual locals, violent crime is virtually unheard of.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">clean, organised and civil unrest is almost unheard of<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">relatively uncrowded streets, clean and orderly, streets and pavements are well-lit at night and muggings are rare<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">easy to travel around, has a stable economy and low crime rate<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">hospitals and airports are modern<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Source -</em> <a href="http://travel.uk.msn.com/inspiration/adventure-activities/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=156067311"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">http://travel.uk.msn.com/inspiration/adventure-activities/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=156067311</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></p></span>

The world's least safe destinations

Online MSN Travel UK asked nearly 3,000 British holidaymakers where they feel most and least safe, based on holidays over the last three yea...

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Arrive alive and neurotic or in a coffin

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">This is a warning to the people who don’t live in South Africa, but plan to travel here at some point or another. Please note, if you’re from a country where you can rely on public transport, this post is especially for you. You need to note that public transport in South Africa is not safe – and shouldn’t be attempted unless you’re really brave. Rather consider renting a car from Avis, or any of those agents…<br /><br />In South Africa, yes there are buses . And yes, there are taxis. But you need to note that when you use either of these it might be the last thing you ever do.<br /><br />These are not taxis in the typical Western sense of the term like you know them in the UK or the US. The industry is made up mostly of 16-seater commuter kombi buses which are more often than not unsafe or not roadworthy. Minibus taxi drivers are known for their disregard for the road rules and for dangerously overloading their vehicles with passengers of sometimes upto as many as 33 passengers. The taxi drivers have long since been notorious in South Africa. Most minibus taxis drive at high speed like the devil himself.<br /><br />Quoting Thomas Thale:</span><br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">“MINIBUS taxis are by far the cheapest and most popular form of public transport in South Africa, used mainly by the urban and rural poor. But if you are a visitor to Johannesburg, using a taxi can prove bewildering and even frightening.”</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Buses are all the same. In the past month I have seen two bus accidents on my route to work, and three taxi accidents in Pretoria. Just to give you an idea, I live about 7km from work. All these accidents were due to speeding & reckless driving (e.g. running a red traffic light). Obviously depending on which bus driver you land up with, but most of the ones I come across drive like they stole the bus.<br /><br />Firstly they endanger the passengers – secondly normal road users are subject to share the road with these people and public anger against minibus taxi drivers is reaching boiling point.<br /><br />Car accidents in South Africa are as common as snow in Russia. Everyone knows someone who’s been in an accident – if they weren’t in one themself. Its strange how we just put up with it really?? Its strange how people get arrested for not paying parking tickets, but bus drivers and taxi driver get to endanger thousands of people’s lives each day – without any penalization. I have never seen the Metro police give a ticket to a taxi or a bus driver. Maybe I’m just never in the right place. The Metro police don’t intervene because … I don’t know why?…<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">The thugs that cause the carnage on SA roads.</span></strong><br /><br />The 2010/2011 Festive Season took its toll yet again - over 1300 people died on our roads and multiple others were injured in car crashes across the country.<br /><br />South African road safety statistics are far from comforting. One in two out of approximately 150 000 public minibus taxis is involved in an accident every year. According to the AA, it recorded an annual total of 70 000 minibus taxi crashes, indicating that taxis in the country amount for double the rate of crashes compared to all other passenger vehicles. According to media reports, at least 74 people were killed and 203 injured in minibus taxi accidents across the country in August and early September alone. So if you're really worried about staying alive out there, do NOT take a minibus taxi.<br /><br />You're much more likely to die on the road especially when Arrive Alive and the rest of the nanny-state crew can't be bothered to make a big deal of it. Too little (if any) law and order has left the public transport sector in chaos which in turn has resulted in minibus taxi drivers having scant respect for their vehicles, the safety of their passengers and no respect for other vehicles sharing the roads with them.<br /><br />What gives? Why does the Arrive Alive campaign make so much noise during the holidays, and go so silent for the rest of the year? As if the government's scare-programme and its apparently opportunistic traffic law enforcement over the holidays isn't enough we get advertising campaigns threatening rape in AIDS-infested prisons. Why does anyone think it acceptable to terrify people during the festive season with advertisements that suggest gang-rape in prison as an acceptable penalty for drink-driving? Yes, there is no excuse for drunk driving. The same goes for any other dangerous driving or unsafe vehicles.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Report bad minibus taxi drivers to the national traffic call centre on 0861 400 800 (which surprise, surprise, is "in the process of upgrading its system").</span></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>Death, violence and carnage -</strong> Seeing is believing ...</span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="left"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtElsBhMOgtBpE_QGF98oTiuVNu6CGgGcqUyqS1JZyPujSuT2Ei6AGMBhZ8yP8WV_kLX7lReRk-vldwVSNhzLJbpyzeQbL5a3hba9l22wPcfystWLrzXF501LqIEQGr1ncvopbGv0BzQk7/s1600/Taxi-acc-08092010026-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtElsBhMOgtBpE_QGF98oTiuVNu6CGgGcqUyqS1JZyPujSuT2Ei6AGMBhZ8yP8WV_kLX7lReRk-vldwVSNhzLJbpyzeQbL5a3hba9l22wPcfystWLrzXF501LqIEQGr1ncvopbGv0BzQk7/s640/Taxi-acc-08092010026-300x225.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_0BAS1Ip77BU03FeJOpvC616co1B4GlPOZ1aQ2oKAqWtNxPUqsX98BuixfpiFMw40szY9dJTNHYWAjCZEB7J5ex8-xiRiv9MJslCB99Gy3Ghdhhjzh6YguIGtBPVv_TSXDQPC3aHfc3c/s1600/Taxis-R114-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; 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MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDudvK8mVZE2hvs595vAgOS0bGdNmE-SLMv9jUqEDivns6qXmmJpD-Kr8Arv8izwDvCkZPwo-0FReyrctjPcJeQNxU3PGKqqSa2A-nE-r0maIHuWiJXJauZ22_y6vvNBlyaeaiJifFTOTe/s640/taxis-acc.bmp" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5aLUdC0Ob9yGUkuSt-OyKCA8acw7jXmKzIWWkG16cdlwIHGF1FQ1V4f8wymiW2qZMfJ97Bo0E3TX_-exCiw-8c9-nelpFUJPszyPd3Ri7x4LPh0dSexiOmDzoC9h72ZrhR5ldBRS9VMg/s1600/Taxis-deadly-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5aLUdC0Ob9yGUkuSt-OyKCA8acw7jXmKzIWWkG16cdlwIHGF1FQ1V4f8wymiW2qZMfJ97Bo0E3TX_-exCiw-8c9-nelpFUJPszyPd3Ri7x4LPh0dSexiOmDzoC9h72ZrhR5ldBRS9VMg/s640/Taxis-deadly-3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPN-OYMDlyt60azhv1isFnWQO-2vfEDZuDsDXELUv7zPSWSLdKywaWARkPVR7fgJG97SaRhju7CooXhLIV9NgwEhhTB4bm9dOmKdAG2inaykF3hGK1DgoCZq02vIkuAzoTapnPdRCVujf/s1600/Taxis-deadly-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPN-OYMDlyt60azhv1isFnWQO-2vfEDZuDsDXELUv7zPSWSLdKywaWARkPVR7fgJG97SaRhju7CooXhLIV9NgwEhhTB4bm9dOmKdAG2inaykF3hGK1DgoCZq02vIkuAzoTapnPdRCVujf/s640/Taxis-deadly-4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQir9wh2Tg-5_p4U0KbwQujbBbPnoHFv7PQcAAdLg88sXsnUdCp-j1h7Ae3o8Bz7mjw7WzwZOkyFtOBWej45TgomqsD2KmLKgKi9snMOELrIi0cdIFGY7nFxan9ra8F4cEtWSWoFm06doZ/s1600/Taxis-deadly-1024x685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQir9wh2Tg-5_p4U0KbwQujbBbPnoHFv7PQcAAdLg88sXsnUdCp-j1h7Ae3o8Bz7mjw7WzwZOkyFtOBWej45TgomqsD2KmLKgKi9snMOELrIi0cdIFGY7nFxan9ra8F4cEtWSWoFm06doZ/s640/Taxis-deadly-1024x685.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_USV-OG2pFwbsir7StmtXX2IVmSPeWn0TTOaeu4IvIFoNIsSFzDcWsqPT8EK5_1rHi4EWK6qmmstDxZetXnZmvxx67XrzRUJAXtVpbW66dnum57zB9nCp9bC1R7CEG8pAKe8dRjSe9dh/s1600/taxi-train-accident-25-aug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_USV-OG2pFwbsir7StmtXX2IVmSPeWn0TTOaeu4IvIFoNIsSFzDcWsqPT8EK5_1rHi4EWK6qmmstDxZetXnZmvxx67XrzRUJAXtVpbW66dnum57zB9nCp9bC1R7CEG8pAKe8dRjSe9dh/s640/taxi-train-accident-25-aug.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRymSe1NUij8u6KTCQSlPyXwBcmgtRsd5SwH2d06ATxv9-M3XXqUfX1yvifDoPQv5LZazRACJ2eU-SMKS6iZRaUUjFzYK8i3z4fAL42SO9RAa2-GtkE14qPshyphenhyphen_zLXRgcrtiKutu9sg0U/s1600/taxi-train-accident-25-aug-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRymSe1NUij8u6KTCQSlPyXwBcmgtRsd5SwH2d06ATxv9-M3XXqUfX1yvifDoPQv5LZazRACJ2eU-SMKS6iZRaUUjFzYK8i3z4fAL42SO9RAa2-GtkE14qPshyphenhyphen_zLXRgcrtiKutu9sg0U/s640/taxi-train-accident-25-aug-3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiaXUSrHtTHIQ1xHOwsuGsEdsDF8Bvd5SjQJ_-MASOTCxNcpp1TgWXYZ_xHnxfrEE467Zh-YCtmtck4T2tZq0WQD3pPFLQs52MJg3QNUZIy_pJ2IlDPgjJMK3fZU_D0Vt_i6r_FM1y379/s1600/taxi-truck-crash.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiaXUSrHtTHIQ1xHOwsuGsEdsDF8Bvd5SjQJ_-MASOTCxNcpp1TgWXYZ_xHnxfrEE467Zh-YCtmtck4T2tZq0WQD3pPFLQs52MJg3QNUZIy_pJ2IlDPgjJMK3fZU_D0Vt_i6r_FM1y379/s640/taxi-truck-crash.bmp" width="640" /></a> </div><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>And the death, violence and carnage continues </strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>4 killed, 44 hurt in horror N1 crash - Today 2011-01-03<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Four people were killed and 44 others injured when a packed minibus taxi and a bakkie collided along the N1 freeway near Bela Bela on Monday afternoon, paramedics said.<br /><br />Paramedics arrived on scene and found both vehicles mangled near the roadway, Netcare 911 spokesperson Jeff Wicks said.<br /><br />Ten people sustained critical injuries, 20 others suffered serious injuries and 13 had from minor to moderate injuries.<br /><br />All the injured people were taken to Meulmed Hospital and various other nearby health centres.<br /><br />The cause of the accident was not known. ("stupid is as stupid does") </span></span></p><p><br /></p>

Arrive alive and neurotic or in a coffin

This is a warning to the people who don’t live in South Africa, but plan to travel here at some point or another. Please note, if you’re fro...

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Prepare to pay to drive the new R21-billion Gauteng freeway system

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Commuters are going to pay hundreds, if not thousands of rands a month to use Gauteng's new transport system. The introduction of toll roads has the potential to devastate the local economy and cripple everyday commuters as a result of these unreasonably high fees.</span></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx85qz1YS-blZpoVkF7BpxPOQTz1ZEOLwL20oLpp6_oLMd5uMIkc_BVETaV6Og_f63cjpmS622hy4frSch-7ioN-XRd1UbDwcy_NJEYg83hs99_doUPYAY1do44LsGtqnHgH1U_8_d8Cr2/s1600/m1_johannesburg_traffic_small.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552911311483428690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx85qz1YS-blZpoVkF7BpxPOQTz1ZEOLwL20oLpp6_oLMd5uMIkc_BVETaV6Og_f63cjpmS622hy4frSch-7ioN-XRd1UbDwcy_NJEYg83hs99_doUPYAY1do44LsGtqnHgH1U_8_d8Cr2/s400/m1_johannesburg_traffic_small.png" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 335px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />There’s a horrible surprise waiting for commuters come April 2011, a bill of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NQbznEWP0erSbuZ2rMHsvumCmls2lPEWpC2mTc0s40j_u5dzj6Vhp7iYytBeWvYjL5D9TIye6XTymvTUOeo8Gkez2ZIXYBuhBp-_DSU1fPNkNqdFYBVCMYG6jMr5P_J3Mw0ZnweDgu2X/s1600/Road_Tolling_Lane.png"></a>anywhere between R54 and R1,020 (depending on the length of your commute) per month to use the new highways.<br /><br />Initial estimates is that you’ll get fleeced of 50c/km to use the highways, but we could be in for up to 68c/km after inflation.<br /><br />Best case scenario is if you live in Soweto and drive to Sandton every day (only 2.7km of the route is tolled) you’re going to pay R54 a month for 20-day work month. But if you’re one of the poor suckers like me who live in Roodepoort or Randburg and need to commute to Rivonia Rd, we’re in for a whopping R566 a month for the 28.3km of the N1 that is tolled. On average, Joburg commuters can expect to pay R553 a month to use the highways.<br /></p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552911738508469906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPSrc5-kCBwR85uzOrtf3V1U0yAWYdUx5Da-36daF599g_aPsSw6eC8tIjk5Mk_Wi9l_aU192vsEmJjYZzrz13hkQpwX7LchJ4rtoJS8VtU2DJNfZKM9ckCd6aF21c0lVCX7ZvdQnAikx/s400/table.png" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 359px; CURSOR: hand" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">If SANRAL decides to hike the per-kilometre rate to 68c, those numbers could go up to as much as R74 for the Soweto/Sandton route, R769 for the Roodepoort/Rivonia route and a whopping R1,387 a month for the Joburg/Pretoria route.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNayZCmrfbbj8E1REPsDbWAzrtkvumkYYZJazidkqdvOYqzEkTMq9giTAur-U-FHlTcmdf0im_ucWVIpoQlKHiOzquGU7CtGR4Sz86MzDbozJBh4a_hoLcxDIHl3xnLpk-eRysOeBSuVvx/s1600/Road_Tolling_Lane.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552912923636673218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNayZCmrfbbj8E1REPsDbWAzrtkvumkYYZJazidkqdvOYqzEkTMq9giTAur-U-FHlTcmdf0im_ucWVIpoQlKHiOzquGU7CtGR4Sz86MzDbozJBh4a_hoLcxDIHl3xnLpk-eRysOeBSuVvx/s400/Road_Tolling_Lane.png" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 335px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />These rates are just for everyday cars mind you. Trucks and goods vehicles will be hit even harder no doubt. And I can guarantee you that motorcycles will be tolled just as hard as cars so it doesn’t even pay you to switch from four to two wheels.<br /><br />Add the cost of fuel and you’ve got a formula for economic ruin for average Joburg residents, not to mention the inflationary effect that these additional costs will have on local businesses.<br /><br />Whatever happens, Joburgers and the residents of Gauteng are going to be a bunch of much poorer people thanks to SANRAL’s tolls. It’s definitely not a pretty picture.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The public can not carry the costs anymore! </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Make your voices heard against the ridiculously high toll gate tariffs.<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Sign the petition here:-</span></strong> <a href="http://www.tollgatepetition.org.za/"><em>http://www.tollgatepetition.org.za/</em></a></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p> </p>

Prepare to pay to drive the new R21-billion Gauteng freeway system

Commuters are going to pay hundreds, if not thousands of rands a month to use Gauteng's new transport system. The introduction of toll r...

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Gunmen open fire on Soccer World Cup shuttle buses

<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Nine people were injured in two separate attacks when gunmen opened fire on Rea Vaya buses in Soweto</span></strong> -- wounding four in Orlando West -- and left one of them in a critical condition. In the second incident a driver and four passengers were injured when a bus was shot at in Moletsane.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG7uTsRyCvwxCg4kibpwUGpYQnUYkN7CPa2jjIUKk-ZJA14ti5SujMPz7kJl5v0bXgcMcGlYWbmB7umSmnA-PLkPBw1n9c6vb7UvNvy324j517q857Z1GjGmxxzpnydPbbN5V_JFC4CXc/s1600/BRT+buses+in+Jhb.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466640384637217106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG7uTsRyCvwxCg4kibpwUGpYQnUYkN7CPa2jjIUKk-ZJA14ti5SujMPz7kJl5v0bXgcMcGlYWbmB7umSmnA-PLkPBw1n9c6vb7UvNvy324j517q857Z1GjGmxxzpnydPbbN5V_JFC4CXc/s400/BRT+buses+in+Jhb.png" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 385px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The network of shuttle buses link Soweto with central Johannesburg, making stops near the downtown <strong>Ellis Park, and Soccer City, venue for the June 11 opening of the Soccer World Cup and the July 11 final</strong>.<br /><br />The Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system which aimed to break the monopoly of black minibus taxis on public roads, was introduced in August last year.<br /><br />At each step, SA's famously aggressive taxi drivers have protested violently against the programme, burning tyres to obstruct roads and firing shots at BRT buses.<br /><br />Two people were injured by gunshots during last year's protests. A Rea Vaya driver, whose house was petrol-bombed last month, claimed he was targeted because he left his job as a taxi driver to work for BRT.</span> - Sapa</span> <p></p>

Gunmen open fire on Soccer World Cup shuttle buses

Nine people were injured in two separate attacks when gunmen opened fire on Rea Vaya buses in Soweto -- wounding four in Orlando West -- an...

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Minister’s unlawfull R67.8m tender – a looter continua!

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">A company partly owned by Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda was allegedly unlawfully awarded a R67.8 million tender by the Gauteng roads and transport department</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3JzuqCdbMLSmLiQutSk32dLAoLVV4YCRyavOp8pHH2nVfXJZlL6oBOx6L0W7DGgvySZXv43PrBaeFL2Tj1NXcg3cg_UhnHmCAM1mb9hrzSBoRZ_dr_T9QYG-rE3UYaU8gfJSW0gt6WK6/s1600-h/Communication+Minister+Siphiwe+Nyanda.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450097709696617906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3JzuqCdbMLSmLiQutSk32dLAoLVV4YCRyavOp8pHH2nVfXJZlL6oBOx6L0W7DGgvySZXv43PrBaeFL2Tj1NXcg3cg_UhnHmCAM1mb9hrzSBoRZ_dr_T9QYG-rE3UYaU8gfJSW0gt6WK6/s400/Communication+Minister+Siphiwe+Nyanda.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 365px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>DA Gauteng corruption spokesman Jack Bloom said GNS Risk Advisory Services, in which Nyanda had 50 percent share, had benefited from a tender which was not publicly advertised.<br /><br />“This is outrageous. Treasury Regulation 16A6.4 allows for procurement of required goods or services by means other than competitive bids only if this is impractical, but how could there have been anything impractical in this case?" Bloom asked in a statement.<br /><br />The services provided by GNS, he said, could have been provided by other companies.<br /><br />"This contract also appears to have grown in value, and was not reviewed to see if another company could do it more cost-effectively."<br /><br />He said in awarding the tender, the department did not follow proper tender processes.<br /><br />"It seems highly irregular that Minister Nyanda continues to benefit handsomely from GNS's contract with a Gauteng government department that should have been reviewed long ago," said Bloom.<br /><br />Department spokesman Philemon Motshwaedi has yet to comment.<br /><br />Transnet on Wednesday dismissed two senior managers for manipulating a tender process involving GNS.<br /><br />A disciplinary hearing found the two guilty of dishonesty and misconduct that led to the awarding of a tender for security services at Transnet Freight Rail.<br /><br />The two managers were suspended in November last year.<br /><br />Transnet spokesman John Dludlu confirmed to Sapa that the dismissals were related to a contract awarded to GNS Security Company.<br /><br />And last month, the Congress of the People said it intended asking the Public Protector to investigate Nyanda's business interests.<br /><br />The party alleged his business interests were in conflict with Section 96 of the Constitution and Section 2 of the Executive Members' Ethics Act.<br /><br />This meant he could not undertake any other paid work, expose himself to a conflict of private and official interests, and use his position to enrich himself, or act in a way that could compromise the credibility of government. </span><p>

Minister’s unlawfull R67.8m tender – a looter continua!

A company partly owned by Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda was allegedly unlawfully awarded a R67.8 million tender by the Gauteng road...

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Forty-nine schoolchildren crammed into 16-seater taxi

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">A taxi driver was arrested on Wednesday after he was caught transporting 49 schoolchildren crammed into a 16-seater minibus taxi between KwaZulu-Natal's Mooi River and Estcourt, the Department of Transport said.</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7081n4Jw8mZsYdZ0BRJfcNskGR7b7V9HfZQokS-wPsIDhj14Adj8pnFctERmFLcASmP6WwC3Ck6pODO8Yw39EO46c0J6cdU6hJH7B82eyOdjj8R9GIXnWRKKg8bFUJCCAzp5LLh5vvk7/s1600-h/mini-bus-black-taxi.bmp"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD95eNrNR7kE4Bf7YgaOKgC80Mu6xrxhfw5e1LOtz0BX0QAFqMLFdq4b1E1sFq3dpa0PkUU8uJ8rIZggDGUUQM_p_dtA7rzohNvXqs5HRgyV-vVk8WLKyEP8fN25uHXTBkFpXUdp6OPCA/s1600-h/Minibus.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434795605697462866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD95eNrNR7kE4Bf7YgaOKgC80Mu6xrxhfw5e1LOtz0BX0QAFqMLFdq4b1E1sFq3dpa0PkUU8uJ8rIZggDGUUQM_p_dtA7rzohNvXqs5HRgyV-vVk8WLKyEP8fN25uHXTBkFpXUdp6OPCA/s400/Minibus.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" /></a>What made the situation even worse was that the driver was five times over the legal alcohol limit, said Department of Transport spokesperson Logan Maistry.<br /><br />Road Traffic Inspectorate chief Collin Govender said the pupils, who were between three and 13 years old, had been at huge risk.<br /><br />The taxi, which was certified to carry 16 passengers, had been travelling to Estcourt, where the children went to school.<br /><br />"The children were sitting on top of each other. It's outrageous when you consider that these are school children who were being transported by someone in possession of a public driver's permit. Driving under the influence of alcohol is one thing, but when you consider the lives of all these children it shows how irresponsible the driver is," said Govender.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKyy7XxW0eJFZuNbqyxqBcOsvahwKwmcpTQzLJMMHPBsekNu_2tbklfTlqTHzBUqleX78HPkOgrwogWVNs4gjtMoG2TWXGghqVcBO2r0YwzNrYky_Gbe5togs5mabfkoIF-XKMAhqIJDB/s1600-h/taxi_overload_3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434795609776742722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKyy7XxW0eJFZuNbqyxqBcOsvahwKwmcpTQzLJMMHPBsekNu_2tbklfTlqTHzBUqleX78HPkOgrwogWVNs4gjtMoG2TWXGghqVcBO2r0YwzNrYky_Gbe5togs5mabfkoIF-XKMAhqIJDB/s400/taxi_overload_3.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 324px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px" /></a>"His vision was blurred. It's 30km from Mooi River to Estcourt and he still had to drive to different schools when he arrived in the town to drop off the children. The children had to remain in that (uncomfortable) position until they got to school. They had their school bags with them and the conductor was also in the taxi," he said.<br /><br />"We are fortunate (that nothing happened). This was a disaster waiting to happen."<br /><br />The man was charged with overloading and drunk driving. He will appear in the Mooi River Magistrate's Court today.<br /></span><p></p>

Forty-nine schoolchildren crammed into 16-seater taxi

A taxi driver was arrested on Wednesday after he was caught transporting 49 schoolchildren crammed into a 16-seater minibus taxi between Kwa...

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Forget Julius Malema. Meet: Chris Hlabisa

<P><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TayRuaopRWOldP5iOzIPm0XJwWVBYMYP4levI_DTCqQn4jXZ-4Yjy4iCGXURW6GJ_AfLQtIQ3KV6MoxvGJAY31Zy_baCLQzkCzAGFvfLD1-fStCIOzxZ4dGD-gDeuNmN7yIyLPy2r_Yj/s1600-h/nigger-dumb.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431992783264713266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TayRuaopRWOldP5iOzIPm0XJwWVBYMYP4levI_DTCqQn4jXZ-4Yjy4iCGXURW6GJ_AfLQtIQ3KV6MoxvGJAY31Zy_baCLQzkCzAGFvfLD1-fStCIOzxZ4dGD-gDeuNmN7yIyLPy2r_Yj/s400/nigger-dumb.bmp" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Church of Scotland Hospital chef Hluphile Elda Zuma, 53, is suing the provincial government - and in particular the transport MEC Willies "Wonker" Mchunu - for R1,1-million after she lost an arm in an accident when the taxi in which she was travelling hit a pothole on the R33 between Keates Drift and Tugela Ferry in December, 2004.<br /><br />Apparently the minibus, having hit a pothole, overturned. The taxi driver could not avoid the pothole because of oncoming vehicles. Zuma was so badly hurt her arm had to be amputated below the elbow and, since the accident, she had lost her job and income, endured pain, and has have further medical treatment. She hoped for a bionic prosthesis, the court heard.<br /><br />According to Sapa, a witness told the court that when he arrived at the scene, the minibus was upside down and the left ball-joint between the axle and chassis broken. He also said that several other vehicles had been damaged by the pothole, estimating it at 30cm to 35cm deep.<br /><br />Now Zuma's legal representatives are not messing around. They called in a retired transportation professor to give evidence. He was apparently the only person able to see that the offending pothole should have been urgently repaired. The cost of repairing a large pothole is about 15 times greater than if it had been repaired when still small, Alex Visser (the ex-prof) explained.<br /><br />Visser said this type of road defect developed over a long time, starting small, growing gradually over months, if not years. Pothole repair involved a standard procedure and was not difficult. Checks on road conditions should be done weekly, he said, and potholes reported at meetings. There you go; not so difficult, hey?<br /><br />Moreover, the hole should have been repaired urgently as it was between two bends. Signs - ones warning drivers about it - should have been erected. The taxi driver had moved into the right lane to go round the pothole but swerved left again to avoid an oncoming vehicle. He hit the pothole and the taxi overturned.<br /><br />The prof was on a roll. You see, Blade Nzimande knows what he's talking about when he stresses the importance of a university education.<br /><br />This is fascinating stuff. Many of us have blown our tyres and lost our nifty rims on potholes in the beloved country. You just need to drive from Parkview to Melville in Johannesburg - or from the circle near the German school to Empire road - or, heavens to betsy, out of your driveway. But the story gets even better, much better.<br /><br />Turns out, my brothers and sisters - as JG Zuma might say - that the mighty province of KZN spent R5,36-million tarring a section of lightly-used road past the country home of then provincial premier (and now transport minister) Sbu Ndebele. And Judge Jan Combrink and counsel in the case conducted an inspection in loco of the road past Ndebele's home. And the road past Ndebele's summer plek was used by about 20 vehicles a day, a man who lives close to the road told the court.<br /><br />However, KZN neglected the maintenance of another busy, dangerous road, the court heard. And you know which road the province neglected, don't you? And oh yeah - earlier evidence indicated that the pothole on the busy road - the one that cost Zuma her arm and that was not repaired - could have been fixed for R500 when it was still small. (I think maybe it was the prof who explained that part.)<br /><br />But the story gets top notch with the entrance of one Chris Hlabisa, the head of the KZN transport department. Hlabisa clearly puts the interests of the province first and foremost. And he, obviously a sensitive man, is hurt that people - such as Zuma (the armless woman, not the president) - are, as he put it, only interested in <em>"ripping off the government"</em> by suing the transport department for injuries and damage caused by potholes. Au contraire, he told an enterprising journalist, Bronwyn Gerretsen of the Independent group, <em>people should be grateful they have roads on which to travel</em>.<br /><br />Hlabisa said that instead of realising that many of their fellow citizens did not have transport and roads, people were choosing to <em>"milk the government"</em>.<br /><br /><em><blockquote><em>"I think people are very unfair on the government," he said. "We are asking them why they are so inconsiderate. They know the roads have exceeded their life spans of 25 years, and they know that we haven't had significant funding towards improving the road network, but people still take us to the cleaners. People must work through their consciences and they must understand and go back to the basics and the realities of our country." </em></blockquote><p></em>Both the provincial and national transport departments were inundated with litigation - he said - and it was causing <em>"a lot of problems"</em>.<br /><br />He cited the 2008 case of Pietermaritzburg advocate Allistair McIntosh, who sued the department for R100-million in compensation for injuries sustained in a cycling accident on the P164 Rosetta-Kamberg road, and was eventually awarded R15-million in damages.<br /><br />Hlabisa said there were now queues of people with <em>"overboard"</em> claims at the department's doors. Some of the claims were for huge amounts and it was difficult for the department to win these cases, he said sadly. <em><blockquote><em>"People must be considerate. All the claims are very high, they are ripping off the government ... and if our South African public takes us to the cleaners and for a ride, what about those people who have never had access to roads? We are trying to make ends meet for them, but now we have people who are going all out with an influx of claims. I don't know what they are up to,"</em> said Hlabisa.</blockquote><p></em>Asked by the journalist to clarify whether "considerate" meant that people should only claim for the exact cost of damages suffered, or if they should not claim from the government at all, Hlabisa responded: <em>"People in rural areas are still walking 30km to get to transport. <blockquote>"There are people whose lives, when it rains, come to a complete standstill because they can't cross swollen rivers to get to schools and clinics ... Then you get people who hit a pothole and make a big noise.<br /><br />"We are asking them why they are so inconsiderate. Don't they know where they are living? Don't they know that many people are still suffering because of the imbalances of the past and that they still have to carry coffins many kilometres to graveyards? I am very disappointed." </blockquote><p></em>Hlabisa acknowledged that the road network needed rehabilitation but said the department needed more funding. <em><blockquote><em>"It is a reality we are facing. We are limited in terms of resources ... There are two worlds in South Africa, the First World and the Third World, yet people are making a meal of it."</em></blockquote><p></em>Are you following this? Some people are making a meal of the first and third worlds (without or without tomato sauce?); others have to carry coffins to graveyards; and yet people like Zuma, who merely lost her arm, job and a good deal more, are harassing the provincial government.<br /><br />I mean, listen up: if anyone at Luthuli House has been concerned that something might happen - like, say, a road accident due to a pothole - to Julius Malema, they need worry no more. His replacement is the HOD at transport in KZN. The guy's a genius - he's wasted in transport, I say. Put him in the national executive committee. </span><p><br /></p>

Forget Julius Malema. Meet: Chris Hlabisa

Church of Scotland Hospital chef Hluphile Elda Zuma, 53, is suing the provincial government - and in particular the transport MEC Willies ...

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20 cars a day on Ndebele's tarred road

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">A tar road in front of the country residence of Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele was used by about 20 vehicles a day, a man who lives close to the road told the Pietermaritzburg High Court today.</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG_nnlo9EgLlE2LHgdZL73fwNWu6gTwDI7MxVZql3BFDmc9ZWWW101kQQn5fRut7vMDjR4S9cBeLl-7R7iacupEGt2QYxbNl0fu5MPWlspUEJMrT7BddHvtUZEh0mf1fPZofr77Wuh0bf/s1600-h/potholes_2_48340b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431505465692381234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG_nnlo9EgLlE2LHgdZL73fwNWu6gTwDI7MxVZql3BFDmc9ZWWW101kQQn5fRut7vMDjR4S9cBeLl-7R7iacupEGt2QYxbNl0fu5MPWlspUEJMrT7BddHvtUZEh0mf1fPZofr77Wuh0bf/s400/potholes_2_48340b.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px" /></a>Themba Sibiya, 45, a tractor driver, who said he had lived close to the road all his life, was testifying in a case in which Hluphile Zuma, a former chef, lost a hand and part of her forearm in a 2005 taxi accident. The minibus overturned, apparently when it hit a pothole on the busy road between Tugela Ferry and Keate's Drift in December 2004.<br /><br />She is suing the KwaZulu-Natal roads department and government for an amount still to be fixed. The department is opposing the claim, arguing that a lack of money precluded more road maintenance and repair.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">The five kilometres of tar road past Ndebele's property cost about R5.536 million to lay in the 2004/5 budget, according to government documents.</span></strong><br /><br />Zuma's lawyers contend that if the province spent that amount on tarring a lightly used road past Ndebele's property, it should have been used to maintaining the Tugela Ferry-Keate's Drift road.<br /><br />Earlier evidence given indicated the pothole could have been fixed for R500 when it was still small.<br /><br />Sibiya said road signs presumably brought for the tar road construction were still in their plastic wraps at the scene of the construction.<br /><br />Pietermaritzburg's Natal Witness reported in August 2005 that local residents questioned why the road past Ndebele's home was tarred before a much busier road close by, which was in bad repair.<br /><br />Farmers vainly tried for nine years to persuade the roads department to tar the busier road on which many accidents occurred.<br /><br />At the time a local resident said a substantial part of the lightly used road was tarred within a year after the then premier's wife Zama Ndebele had an accident on the road. </span><p><span style="font-family:arial;color:#990000;"><em>Related:</em></span></p><p><a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/article278435.ece"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Over 1500 holiday road fatalities </em></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/article271141.ece"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>KZN transport boss subpoenaed in pothole case </em></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article81763.ece"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Mother sues premier and MEC after pothole crash</em></span> </a></p><p><br /> </p>

20 cars a day on Ndebele's tarred road

A tar road in front of the country residence of Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele was used by about 20 vehicles a day, a man who lives close to...

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R40k on welcome drinks

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf0CIV6_Pf8Yfkf6R2ZU2SYTn89YsynTKTz7LCzYRONjO2SG-cefrC76Nz1DviLQicpmAKlehag1n28t4YHTKpYt8ItdsWkdWDKTcPB65RB_FznJ8NTgisa23RF7Gh1KKYztzW2OboBgw/s1600-h/train_surfing.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411122616234948306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf0CIV6_Pf8Yfkf6R2ZU2SYTn89YsynTKTz7LCzYRONjO2SG-cefrC76Nz1DviLQicpmAKlehag1n28t4YHTKpYt8ItdsWkdWDKTcPB65RB_FznJ8NTgisa23RF7Gh1KKYztzW2OboBgw/s400/train_surfing.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The DA has called on Minister of Transport Sbusiso Ndebele to investigate what it called unnecessary expenditure by rail agency Prasa during its Women's Day celebration in August.<br /><br />The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa spent R584 810.92 during the Soweto function which did not benefit commuters, said DA shadow deputy minister of transport, Manny de Freitas in a statement on Thursday.<br /><br />He said R345 000 was spent on catering and R37 500 on welcoming drinks.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">The party's wasteful expenditure monitor currently stood at R570-million</span></strong>, </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">he said.<br /><br />"Commuters have benefited in absolute no way from the event. This is an unacceptable state of affairs, particularly given that the quality of services provided by Prasa continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate."<br /><br />The DA intended asking Ndebele to intervene and stop the wasteful expenditure. Prasa's spokesman Sbusiso Ngomane was not immediately available to comment.<br /></span><br />Sapa </span><p>

R40k on welcome drinks

The DA has called on Minister of Transport Sbusiso Ndebele to investigate what it called unnecessary expenditure by rail agency Prasa during...

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Traffic chaos in CBD and no cops in sight

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmWlnDOSAkekbZmbrHbeRJadkeMOWcGHckA8e3b97OaP9AvcyKIB3-qlX5pL_6NGaE7wMScOVfRBgG6o89Zji0-Y1_uXYbVt4GgLVTpIptpvYIMXVr2LPszGh2ttoYj4Du2ewBPfhAjM/s1600-h/brt-commissioner-photo10.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370598260428878370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmWlnDOSAkekbZmbrHbeRJadkeMOWcGHckA8e3b97OaP9AvcyKIB3-qlX5pL_6NGaE7wMScOVfRBgG6o89Zji0-Y1_uXYbVt4GgLVTpIptpvYIMXVr2LPszGh2ttoYj4Du2ewBPfhAjM/s400/brt-commissioner-photo10.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Parts of the Johannesburg CBD were gridlocked during peak-hour traffic on Friday as the first day's testing of the dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system lanes took place.<br /><br />Much of the congestion happened on the main arterials of Commissioner, Market, Bree, on Wielligh and Sauer streets between 4pm and 5pm.<br /><br />Motorists who usually drove through the middle lanes to avoid taxis found themselves driving straight into the chaos.<br /><br />Intersections were crisscrossed by minibus taxis disregarding traffic lights and, in some streets, taxi drivers began pushing aside barricades placed to block off access to the BRT lanes.<br /><br />At the corner of Rissik and Market streets, a frustrated taxi driver who claimed to have sat in the traffic snarl-up for almost an hour drove into the oncoming traffic to take a turn to another street.<br /><br />"I cannot take this anymore," he said pleading with stunned motorists to let him through. "We are going to block off this BRT thing when it starts operating."<br /><br />A motorist, John Ndlovu, blamed the authorities for the chaos. "Why are they rushing to close off these lanes before the buses start running?" he asked angrily.<br /><br />"This is total incompetence by the people we expect to manage our cities. What is the point of closing off the lanes now, because even if I wanted to leave my car at home to take their bus, it is not yet in operation?"<br /><br />Another motorist said Friday's gridlock was one of the worst he had experienced in a long time. "At least someone should have dispatched metro police to direct and monitor this situation, given that it is the first day of closing these lanes," she said.<br /><br />"This is chaotic. I wonder what will happen when we have visitors here in 2010."<br /><br />Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane said officers were withdrawn in the morning from patrolling the streets after BRT contractors requested time to finish their work on some of the stations.<br /><br />"We were supposed to have closed everything completely today," she said.<br /><br />"But there were still a few touch-ups that had to be done in some parts of the CBD."<br /><br />Mamonyane however insisted that the barricades were left on the middle lanes to sensitise motorists about the need to avoid the dedicated lanes.<br /><br />"We will start the enforcement, which will include issuing fines of up to R500 to motorists who use these BRT lanes, once the buses start running," she warned. </span><p></p>

Traffic chaos in CBD and no cops in sight

Parts of the Johannesburg CBD were gridlocked during peak-hour traffic on Friday as the first day's testing of the dedicated Bus Rapid T...

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Bling BMW: A slap in our faces

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="color:#990000;">"Ask Minister Siphiwe Nyanda what government officials do in a recession..."</span><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsidsgXnwomu3haC-4zTodH_T4wR8tvQLvLGru-JDx_MJL7c_ydysGy9jUc1jvVNtM6v5B7SedpVbeO80CrsTRs4h4YUiok-m9jWjpwMGtuMkh_A1xW7PKCmgCV3YWgNr2SGQDE3qB9R0/s1600-h/bmw-7-series02.jpg"><strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361780089301435090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsidsgXnwomu3haC-4zTodH_T4wR8tvQLvLGru-JDx_MJL7c_ydysGy9jUc1jvVNtM6v5B7SedpVbeO80CrsTRs4h4YUiok-m9jWjpwMGtuMkh_A1xW7PKCmgCV3YWgNr2SGQDE3qB9R0/s400/bmw-7-series02.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" /></strong></a></span><span style="color:#000000;">What does communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda do in the middle of a recession, where jobs are being lost, houses and cars are being repossessed by the thousand, most industries are in negative growth and we are all being told to watch our spending and tighten our belts? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;">He goes out and buys, not one, but two top of the range luxury German cars with every extra under the sun attached, thus figuratively speaking running around beltless and shameless.<br /></span><br />I sit hear confused and irritated asking myself - what world do our ministers live in? In reality we are being encouraged to save and watch our spending. The government on the other hand, being the well-rounded role models they are, are living like rock stars with an endless supply of funds to buy luxury cars fit for heads of state in most rich first world countries.<br /><br />While we are grappling with the worst global recession in history our ignorant ministers are rushing out to luxury stores and buying like there is no tomorrow. Eskom, a state owned parastatal, is raising tariffs by 33%; the country is being lambasted by a wave of strikes demanding extra wages, everything is getting more expensive, house hold debt is at its highest in recorded history, and car sales are in negative growth along with most other sales of goods.<br /><br /><strong>Guidelines are flawed</strong><br /><br />The prescribed guidelines for ministerial purchases are fundamentally flawed and its current practices are not in line with the current economic trends. How on earth can you justify spending R2.5m on two cars when you as a government are pleading poverty, raising taxes, paying your doctors pittances, not supplying your hospitals with the basic equipment used to save lives to name but a few on a very long list?<br /><br />Minster, I have a friend who was on a flight from Johannesburg to Durban after the final rugby test match between SA and the Lions. One of our senior rugby players and his family were spotted by cabin crew sitting in economy class with the rest of the common man. He and his family were invited to move into business class and he refused point blank saying "he was very happy where he was".<br /><br />I mention this purely to make a point that you don't have to take everything that is prescribed to you or your misdirected sense of entitlement deems necessary. This form of behaviour should be a lesson to you and all your "bling bling" cronies in government who are rewarding yourselves before you have even started doing your job. At the moment, the way things are going you should be riding a bicycle to the office or making use of our excellent public transport like everyone else.<br /><br />Minister I challenge you to inform the South African tax-paying public who bought these cars for you out of our hard earned taxes what ceramic surround for controls, ambient interior lighting, adaptive headlights, high beam assist, a three-spoke, leather-covered steering wheel, a R23 400 "rear-seat entertainment" system and a R5 600 "high-gloss satin chrome" paint job help you do your job?<br /><br />Maybe I am just ignorant but these extras are a slap in our faces. What is wrong with a standard 320d BMW? Most people only dream of owning a 3 series BMW, but you lift your nose up at it and go for the top of the range. Why do you need a 750i BMW?<br /><br />I will tell you why, because to you it's all about image, image at the cost of all else, as long as you look good in your designer suits, ministerial mansions, and luxury German cars everything else can fall to pieces. This form of behaviour has no place in a third-world country where more than half your population are below the bread line.<br /><br /><strong>No guilt?</strong><br /><br />Minister, on a more personal level, how do you sleep at night knowing you just spent R2.5m on two cars, while so many South Africans can't even afford a roof over their heads? Do you justify your actions with bureaucratic guidelines and red tape?<br /><br />Shame on you and every other government official spending our taxes quicker than we can earn them. Every day you hear about another minister blowing the bank on some or other exorbitant spending spree or their officials running elaborate fraudulent schemes.<br /><br />Mr Jacob Zuma, the so called "president of the people" is also slipping into the cracks of gluttonous and unscrupulous spending with a new government which is clearly out of control and has no idea about the fundamental difference between money and wealth.<br /><br />Let it be known that you were voted in by the people, the same people who are struggling to make ends meet on a monthly basis. It is time for you and your government to humble yourselves and come down to our level. You are after all our employees; we pay your salaries and fit the bills for all of this reckless spending that has become the norm in the ANC.<br /><br />Lastly, to everyone who voted for the ANC. The next time you are on walking or driving on one of our roads and a 750i BMW with ceramic surround controls, ambient interior lighting, adaptive headlights, high beam assist a three-spoke, leather-covered steering wheel, a R23 400 "rear-seat entertainment" system and a R5 600 "high-gloss satin chrome" paint job screams past you at 180km/h throwing dust and rubber in your face, leaving your tiny insignificant image in its rear camera view, wipe the dust out of your eyes and take a look around and remember who you voted for. After all it's your vote that gives them the blank cheque.<br /><br />These officials should be held accountable for this blatant abuse of power and money. It's no wonder we are such an angry nation, our own government is misappropriating our taxes and hiding behind laws they created to protect their taste for the finest luxuries money can buy.<br /><br />As the late and great Winston Churchill said, "you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all of the time." We are not fools, so next time you pop into your luxury store and buy some unnecessary item, know we are watching you, and we will not stop until you stop.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /></p><p></p>

Bling BMW: A slap in our faces

"Ask Minister Siphiwe Nyanda what government officials do in a recession..." What does communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda do i...

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Millions ‘wasted’ by traffic chief

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_kQmMWY9xutrRoVUJfLyhwr-FQxFIuT7jTnbCU9AAnC69ohABV9IvV8NQITf4hM6uiBW07P9pvs7puP0hZq7kzT2tNB3tvHvjuYZQH3vk0G_vS_fBbHGLefi1EuhhPhOUyPAOrMZUIE/s1600-h/CEO4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357505319722320386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_kQmMWY9xutrRoVUJfLyhwr-FQxFIuT7jTnbCU9AAnC69ohABV9IvV8NQITf4hM6uiBW07P9pvs7puP0hZq7kzT2tNB3tvHvjuYZQH3vk0G_vS_fBbHGLefi1EuhhPhOUyPAOrMZUIE/s400/CEO4.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 139px" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>Unhappy staff finger boss who splurged on Confederations Cup</strong></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">The CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation accused of wasting millions of rands of taxpayers’ money on useless projects — including a R1.3-million jaunt for staff and guests to watch the Confederations Cup, at a cost of up to R31,763 per person, ostensibly to prepare for the 2010 WC.</span></strong><br /><br />Disgruntled staff at the RTMC — responsible for road traffic management across South Africa, including providing vehicle and roadworthiness testing and the testing and licensing of drivers — have also accused Ranthoko Rakgoale of operating like a “dictator”.<br /><br />They want minister of transport Sibusiso Ndebele to investigate the running of the organisation, set up in September 2005, and Rakgoale’s leadership style.<br /><br />Rakgoale has denied the allegations.<br /><br />Last month unhappy staff sent a three-page letter to the Transport Ministry accusing Rakgoale of:<br /><br /></p></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Spending R4.5-million on workshops in the nine prov-inces last October and November, for which R1.5-million had been budgeted;<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Entering into a 10-year R658-million lease for nine office blocks in Pretoria , only two of which are being used ;<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Buying office furniture for R1.2-million without advertising it on open tender;<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Using an official vehicle worth R271000, although he receives a hefty car allowance; and<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Blowing R1.3-million on the hire of private suites at Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld for eight matches during last month’s Confederations Cup.<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8D9fbWt-Gqki83hD0ao3aO4ZQSw6IB_5FdbP71rmydcHPy5QO_5Fa6E-X7XDma8aOVEpTcM1LomtBDNdm1ZSCghbDkyBoHJB8cxEoOFGL54WSncMCzz3etZc1POBUV6_TA2n-RUc5lhc/s1600-h/transport-sbu-ndebele.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8aeCiW8yUpKJfh71l1DAklIprJx9sP2Wgu4cwR9x0A6FAelbmaokuYWwznipXywxEegnpwwSjpS8BBJw-I-pBkXbNod7keNWEPLXFrSwx_-rJlCaLcJFw0ZtfDvsRfCM77kmf2IvDIk/s1600-h/transport-sbu-ndebele.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357544841235846194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8aeCiW8yUpKJfh71l1DAklIprJx9sP2Wgu4cwR9x0A6FAelbmaokuYWwznipXywxEegnpwwSjpS8BBJw-I-pBkXbNod7keNWEPLXFrSwx_-rJlCaLcJFw0ZtfDvsRfCM77kmf2IvDIk/s200/transport-sbu-ndebele.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" /></a>Staff and guests were treated to pre-match lunches and dinners, after-match snacks and drinks.<br /><br />The parastatal coughed up R31,763 per person for those attending matches at Ellis Park and R15,016 for those who went to Loftus.<br /><br />In the letter requesting approval for the hiring of the suites, Celia Khoza, a senior supply-chain manager , said “by attending the tournament, the RTMC will be able to develop planning frameworks in preparation for the World Cup”.<br /><br />The organisation has an annual budget of R182-million, a staff of 144 and is responsible for the implementation of the demerit system whereby drivers will be docked points for traffic violations. It is also expected to oversee the controversial Enatis Licence System.<br /><br />Rakgoale — who earns more than R1.2-million a year, including benefits — this week defended his decision to pay for the suites, saying the matter was discussed at a management meeting and no concerns were raised.<br /><br />Rakgoale, a former head of public works, roads and transport in the Free State, was unceremoniously redeployed to social development by then premier Beatrice Marshoff, which he unsuccessfully challenged in the Bloemfontein High Court.<br /><br />Rakgoale also paid auditing firm Deloitte & Touche R1.5-million from February 6 to March 13 this year for seconding 18 staff members to provide financial and management accounting services to his finance staff.<br /><br />The chairman of the RTMC board, John Sampson, confirmed that Rakgoale had faxed him a copy of the letter from staff, but Rakgoale denied any knowledge of it.<br /><br />“My quote is, ‘I don’t know about the letter that went to the director-general. It’s the first time I am hearing of the allegations. But let them be investigated, because I have nothing to hide,’” he said.<br /><br />He denied buying furniture or commandeering a car for his private use.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzOjHaQdrbQtuEb1eMl7Dblm3-YgbPLcW4Uo5OnV3CXCA2hyphenhyphenHiWcUbmcW3IPUUJSWZ-DFh9YHbL-vcQKDid__YTJrOb4GmaXVF869_jqLi9YwNKZDfxkUi8Y_tIJkouf2ZqDeKTslTV8/s1600-h/transport,_ms_mpumi_mpofu.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357544844369798690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzOjHaQdrbQtuEb1eMl7Dblm3-YgbPLcW4Uo5OnV3CXCA2hyphenhyphenHiWcUbmcW3IPUUJSWZ-DFh9YHbL-vcQKDid__YTJrOb4GmaXVF869_jqLi9YwNKZDfxkUi8Y_tIJkouf2ZqDeKTslTV8/s200/transport,_ms_mpumi_mpofu.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 188px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpj1p_p7zzw_BcoXxp5LwVb_H_w_D_DS63y-P2sDwfjRS-FE1j8qqmW-WzalzaAQx_8mRuQAikA9qitij1dikehERdp-uWnTSOuEm7_Fxre6HcRF7YWJCtSXTOigwG9PlkL1vU7R8c6Y/s1600-h/transport,_ms_mpumi_mpofu.jpg"></a>“It (the car) was allocated to the CEO’s office and is not for my personal use. It is used to deliver post, and in instances when, as a law enforcement officer, I have to attend roadblocks, I use it because it has blue lights.”<br />He said he was forced to call in Deloitte & Touche because some senior officials — who were paid as much as R921,000 a year each — were not doing their jobs.<br /><br />Sampson said he was still deciding how to handle the complaints from staff.<br /><br />Transport director-general Mpumi Mpofu failed to respond to written questions from the Sunday Times.<br /></p></span><p><br /></p>

Millions ‘wasted’ by traffic chief

Unhappy staff finger boss who splurged on Confederations Cup The CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation accused of wasting millions ...

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