Cape Town —
Transport Department Concerned at Ongoing Negligent, Unsafe Driving
The Department of Transport has raised concerns over ongoing negligent and unsafe driving, two weeks into the launch of October Transport Month. EyeWitness News reports that the department has urged motorists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations while highlighting the dangers of unroadworthy vehicles. "We are interested in making sure that there are less fatalities. Unfortunately, you can't always avoid them but we want to get to a point where we minimise the fatalities that occur due to unsafe driving. And those things would have occurred by unroadworthy vehicles," said Transport Department spokesperson Monageng Mokgojwa.
Pilot, Passenger Killed in Aircraft Crash
Two people, including a pilot, died after a fixed-wing aircraft they were flying crashed at Springs Airfield in Ekurhuleni on Saturda, October 14, 2023, News24 reports. A spokesperson for the South African Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft was departing the airfield, and was intending to return to the same airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed on impact. An investigation is under way.
SANDF Sent Soldiers to Cuba for Medical Training That Cost More Than Double What It Would Have Cost Locally
Medical training for South African troops in Cuba was 136% more expensive than an equivalent tertiary course in South Africa. The Department of Defence (DOD) could have saved over R122 million if soldiers studied locally in South Africa. News24 reports that these were the findings of the Auditor-General (AG), who placed the DOD contract with Cuba - called Project Thusano - under the magnifying glass as it scrutinised the department's 2022/23 annual report in Parliament. According to the AG, the DOD continues to incur irregular expenditure relating to the project. Under Project Thusano, the militaries of South Africa and Cuba conduct exchange programmes, especially in field equipment, with the Cubans providing maintenance and repair of South Africa's defence equipment/vehicles.
