Over the past four years, the delivery programmes of my department have been driven by a broad vision to provide mobility to previously marginalised people. But our mission to undo the legacy of apartheid in transport planning and delivery has also been guided by our overall aim to create a culture of safety on our roads, and consequently in our province. Project Asiphephe has gone a long way in cultivating a safe driving culture and through its community-orientated philosophy, the project is constantly developing through ongoing community participation and consultation. But many people in this country are marginalised for other reasons. While racism and prejudice is still rampant in our society, there are other forms of discrimination which are just as abhorrent.
Disabled people are a part of our society who are very often overlooked or disregarded.
We would therefore by failing in our mission to create a fully democratic, equal and just society free of discrimination and prejudice if the interests of such a large section of our society is not taken seriously. Projections indicate that within three years, almost a quarter of a million South Africans will die of AIDS each year and that this figure will have risen to more than half a million by 2008. With over 3.2 million people currently infected with HIV, it is likely that the majority of South Africans will be affected by this epidemic as it impacts on family members, friends and workplace colleagues. As a society therefore, we have to develop a maturity and community support system for people who need the support of others. Through a concerted effort, we have worked together with many sectors to significantly reduce the rate of road fatalities in KwaZulu-Natal.