Ramaphosa signs two new bills into law
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed two bills into law related to transportation safety.
On December 5, the Presidency announced that Ramaphosa signed the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill as well as the Rail Safety Bill.
The first introduces new regulations and offences related to drivers, vehicles, instructors and licensing procedures, while the latter regulates railway safety in the country.
National Road Traffic Amendment Bill
The National Road Traffic Amendment Bill amends the National Road Traffic Act of 1996 with the aim of improving road safety in South Africa.
This is seen as needed as so far this year (2024), 10,154 people have died on South African roads, with the figure expected to climb as the busy festive season approaches.
The Bill “provides for a far-reaching, new dispensation in road safety including fitness of drivers and vehicles, the transportation of certain dangerous goods, the general speed limit and the integrity of the issuing of vehicle and driver’s licences,” said the Presidency.
“The Bill gives effect to the National Road Safety Strategy, which has five pillars: road safety management; safer roads and mobility; safer vehicles; safer road users, and post-crash response,” added the Presidency.
Key provisions of the Bill:
- The bill establishes a framework for suspending or canceling the registration of driving license examiners and vehicle examiners. This measure aims to enhance the integrity of the licensing process.
- Driving schools and testing centers will be registered and graded to ensure quality and standardised practices.
- The Bill disqualifies vehicle examiners who have any financial interests in the motor vehicle industry, including manufacturing, selling, or repairing vehicles. This disqualification extends to financial interests held by the examiner’s spouse or partner.
- Traffic officers, traffic wardens, and NaTIS officials are also disqualified if they have direct or indirect financial interests in road transport service businesses. This includes financial interests held by their spouse or partner.
- The Bill outlines offences related to learner’s licenses and introduces new penalties for individuals assisting driver license applicants in committing offences, including fraud.
- The legislation emphasises the responsibility of emergency services to respond promptly to road incidents. This includes both state and private emergency medical services and those responding to disasters under the Disaster Management Act.
- Drivers of emergency vehicles and those responding to disasters are restricted to a speed limit of 20km/h when passing through intersections while performing their duties.
- The legislation mandates the registration of individuals engaged in building or modifying vehicle bodies on chassis and chassis cabs, as well as those who import new buses or midibuses. This measure aims to regulate these activities and ensure safety standards.
Rail Safety Bill
President Ramaphosa’s pen had a busy day as he signed the Rail Safety Bill to replace the National Railway Safety Regulator Act of 2002.
The new law updates the country’s railway safety regulations and aims to ensure safer railway operations.
“The law recognises that safe railway operations promote the use of rail as an efficient mode of transportation and that the effective provision of railway safety demands uniform policy, norms and standards,” said the Presidency.
“The new law provides for the regulation of railway safety and for the continued existence of the Railway Safety Regulator,” it added.
Key provisions of the Bill include:
- Create a national railway safety information and monitoring system.
- Introduce railway safety permits.
- Designed to create consistent policies, norms, and standards for railway safety.
- Seeks to harmonise South Africa’s railway safety regulations with those of the Southern African Development Community.
“This is a significant prerequisite for greater regional integration,” said the Presidency.
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