MEDIA EXPOSURE ANALYSIS REPORT

DATE: 22-26 January 2018

ELECTRONIC MEDIA COVERAGE:

PRASA releases train crash DNA test result

SAFM and Talk Radio 702 reported that DNA test results of the people who died in the accident involving a truck and a Shosholoza Meyl long-distance train destined for from Port Elizabeth have been released to their families. PRASA was reported to have said it will also meet with the families in order to assist them with the burials.

Ten Limpopo traffic officers nabbed for corruption

Thobela FM reported that Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Tactical Response Team and Hawks continued arresting corrupt officials in Polokwane. Traffic officials were arrested in Capricorn. RTMC Spokesperson, Mr Simon Zwane, said their team is on the nationwide campaign to arrest corrupt traffic officials. RTMC says it will not rest until all corrupt traffic officials are brought to book. In Limpopo eleven officers were arrested this past week and that brings the number of arrested officials in Limpopo to 28 since festive season started.

Two people fatally electrocuted along the 's between and in the Western Cape

SAFM reported about two people have been fatally electrocuted along the Metrorail's central line between Khayelitsha and Cape Town in the Western Cape. This as operations along the line remain suspended following the death of a security guard three weeks ago. Metro-rail Western Cape spokesperson, Riana Scott, warned that high-voltage cables remain active on the Khayelistha- line despite the suspension of train services. Meanwhile police have arrested three men in connection with alleged cable theft. Scott urged community members to continue to provide tip-offs to curb the on-going damage to infrastructure.

Festive season road death toll briefing

1

Lesedi FM reported about the media briefing by Transport Minister, Mr Joe Maswanganyi, on Monday, 22 January 2017 where he officially released the preliminary 2017/18 Festive Season road safety report. According to the statistic released, about 1 676 deaths were recorded during the 2017/18 period as opposed to the previous year, when 1 875 fatalities were recorded. Furthermore, Limpopo had the biggest reduction in fatalities this year, followed by the Free State.

PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE:

Road death toll down— except in Western Cape

The Citizen, Business Day, The Mercury, News, Daily Sun, Cape Times and Cape Argus also reported about the festive season road fatalities’ statistics revealing that the road death toll decreased by a significant 11% to 1 527, compared to 1 714 fatalities recorded in the same period last year. The papers also noted the increase in road fatalities in Western Cape and North West by 7% and 11% in 2017.

RAF Welcomes 11% decline in festive season road fatalities

The New Age published an article about an agency of the Department of Transport, the Road Accident Fund (RAF), welcoming the 11% decrease in festive season road fatalities between December 2017 and 15 January, 2018.

Prasa’s cable theft appeal

The New Age has published an article about the Passenger Railway Agency of (Prasa) calling Government stakeholders and communities to help fight cable theft. According to the paper, this call was prompted by the ongoing criminal activities that have been taken place on the railways and resulted in the loss of lives as well as derailing train services.

Minister defends Myeni

The New Age has published an article about the Minister of Transport, Mr Joe Maswanganyi, describing the level of scrutiny that former SAA chairperson, Dudu Myeni has been subjected to as “unfair” since her appointment as his special advisor.

ANALYSIS

Media houses focused their reports on the 2017/18 road fatality report released the Minister of Transport during a media briefing held at the beginning of the week.

2

News reports and headlines focused on the positive news that the country recorded 11% road fatalities during the 2017/18 festive period.

The story around the people who died in the accident involving a truck and a Shosholoza Meyl long-distance train in Kroonstad in the Free State continues to receive coverage.

The issue of cable theft in the Western Cape which affects Metrorail trains has also been in the news.

3