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South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, was the ‘good cop’ in his press conference yesterday on the new transport regulations under alert Level 2, as he made his most controversial statement of the evening, saying that, while the NCCC would not ban alcohol completely, it is now written in the Road Transport Act that no alcohol whatsoever may be found in the blood sample of a driver of a vehicle.
The Minister said research had shown that driver alcohol intoxication accounted for 27.1% of fatal crashes in the country, which cost the economy R18.2bn (€919.2m) annually. The effects of this on tourism and the conference industry could be far-reaching.
The Minister had some other points to put across regarding the regulations around transport.
He announced that calls by cruise ships to Durban and Cape Town ports were still prohibited, other than for the purposes of allowing SA crew and SA citizens and residents to disembark. No other passengers will be allowed ashore. Disembarking crew will be allowed to transit straight to the airport. The Minister also mentioned in response to a press question that he didn’t expect South Africa’s cruise industry to re-start until next year.
Public transport operators using minibuses, midibuses and buses, may take passengers totalling up to 70% of the capacity shown on the vehicle’s licence for long-distance trips (over 200km). For shorter journeys, the operator may fill the vehicle to 100% of capacity.
Long-distance rail travel may now resume, also with a maximum of 70% of capacity.
Masks are compulsory on all forms of public transport.
The Minister also announced the opening of four more airports under Level 2 regulations – Margate, Mthatha, Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa.
Source: tourismupdate.co.za
