Nzimande asks South Africans take ownership of road safety

The newly appointed minister launched government's Easter Road Safety Campaign on Tuesday morning, in which it aims to increasing driver awareness and reducing road accidents over the coming holiday period. 

Nzimande was joined by deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga and Road Traffic boss advocate Makhosini Msibi in Heidelberg.

"We need to work together, this is a collective campaign," said Nzimande.

The campaign will also embark on educating road users including children.

According to Nzimande 47% of fatalities are pedestrians.

"We are very concerned about the fact that one of the biggest contributors especially during Easter, are taxis. Our approach is that road safety is not only a government problem, it should entirely be owned by the nation, by communities."

He also shared his thoughts on the taxi industry.

"They play a very important role. We would like them to reiterate what their issues are because most of things they raise we believe in. They can actually be addressed by sitting down through dialogue rather than using protests as the first point of call."

Commuters have been left stranded on Tuesday morning after various Ekhuruleni taxi associations embarked on strike.