MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release – Sunday, 23 March 2014
Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters and the Railway Safety Regulator Visits Dr Moroka
Level Crossing and Families of the Bereaved and Injured in North West
Transport Minister, Honourable Dipuo Peters, will tomorrow morning (Monday, 24 March
2014), visit the Dr Moroka Rail Level Crossing in Rustenburg, the scene of a crash that
resulted in the tragic loss of young lives last week Thursday.
The Minister’s visit follows after a car carrying 12 children aged between five and eight
years crossed the level crossing without observing the approaching train. This resulted in a
collision between the car and the oncoming Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) train. Four children
died in the accident, the driver sustained minor injuries and the rest of the children were
sent to nearby hospitals where some remain in critical condition.
Minister Peters will visit the families of the deceased and injured to offer her condolences,
support and to offer government services to the families during this period of grief.
The Minister will also visit the Job Mashingana Tlhabane Hospital where some of the injured
are receiving treatment. RSR together with the Minister will conduct a safety awareness
campaign at the J.D Mosia Primary School in Thlabane.
Accompanying the Minister during her visit will be senior official from the Department of
Transport entities namely the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR), Passenger Rail Agency of South
Africa (PRASA), Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Road Accident Fund (RAF),
the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and the South African National Roads Agency
Limited (SANRAL).
Entities including the RAF and PRASA will assist the families with information regarding post
care services which they offer.
The details of the Minster’s visit are as follows:
Date:
Monday, 24 March 2014
Starting point of visit:
Rustenburg Train Station, Transnet Boardroom (Rustenburg)
Thereafter the Minister will visit the Job Mashingana
Tlhabane Hospital where some of the injured are
hospitalised. Thereafter the Minister will visit the families of
the deceased and injured.
Time:
10h30 for 11h00
Members of the media are invited to join the Minister. Journalists attending are
requested to confirm attendance with Babalwa Mpendu on 081 033 0508 or via e-mail on
babalwam@rsr.org.za
ENDS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Babalwa Mpendu, Acting Senior Manager: Communications
Tel: (012) 848 3000 ext. 3095 Mobile: (081) 033 0508, Email: Babalwam@rsr.org.za
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Rail Safety Regulator (RSR) was established in terms of the National Railway Safety
Regulator Act, 2002 (Act 16, 2002) (as amended) to oversee and promote safe railway
operations through appropriate support, monitoring and enforcement, guided by an
enabling regulatory framework. In the interest of rail safety, RSR also collects and
disseminates information relating to safe railway operations to the public by means of rail
safety awareness campaigns.
THE RSR’S MANDATE IS TO:

Oversee safety in railway transport, while operators remain responsible for
managing safety of their operations.

Develop an appropriate regulatory framework through the development of
regulations and standards for safe railway operations.

Monitor and ensure safety compliance through the conducting of audits, inspections,
safety assessments and occurrence investigations.

Collect and disseminate information relating to safe railway operations.

Promote the harmonisation of the railway safety regime of South Africa with
Southern African Development Community (SADC) railway operations.

Promote improved safety performance in order to promote the use of rail.