Mobility
With regard to the latest statement of Santaco that motorcar owners may only have one passenger in his or her car, whether it is a family member or not:
- Whether his Department issued a statement in response to this; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether his Department has any plans to be implemented to make sure that ordinary car owners’ rights are not violated; if so, what are the relevant details?
- Whether his department issued a statement in response to this; if so, what are the relevant details
The Western Cape Mobility Department did not issue a statement in this regard. The remarks were made by the Provincial SANTACO Chairperson of Mpumalanga, not in the Western Cape. National SANTACO has since distanced itself from these remarks. (See attachment and link for reference.)
- whether his Department has any plans to be implemented to make sure that ordinary car owners’ rights are not violated; if so, what are the relevant details?
No additional plans are required. SANTACO Western Cape has already stated publicly that it does not share the view that private motorists may not carry passengers (See attachment). Within that context, I have also, on various platforms indicated that the citizens of the Western Cape are free to choose a transport mode of their choice and that this right must be respected by all road users. Where isolated sporadic incidents occurred on ordinary road users being intimidated, these instances were taken up with relevant representative structures and addressed immediately. Hence, no specific plans are necessary at this stage.
