SMME transport company Mamoja Trading and Project launched its road safety campaign at its home in Marikana, North West Province, on 5 July.  The safety initiative, focusing raising safety awareness, aims to reduce the severity and frequency of truck accidents in the country. 

Themed “Safety is a small investment for a rich future, hence it remains our priority”, the campaign will be an integral part of the company’s operations going forward.

Said Annah Ngxeketo, Chief Executive and Co-founder of Mamoja: “Many accidents are avoidable, and Mamoja believes a lasting change in workplace attitudes and culture is necessary from everyone who works in the transport industry ,to change this.  In order to deliver the biggest possible impact, we need to ensure that our safe vehicles are driven by safe drivers on safe roads.”

Explaining the significance of the campaign, Ngxeketo added: “The Department of Transport and the Road Transport Management System (RTMS) have made great strides forward in safety awareness in recent years. The reason Mamoja came up with this initiative is because, as part of the industry, we bear witness to more truck accidents every year.”

The most obvious reason why road safety is important is that many lives are at stake. Factors contributing to the high rate of accidents include the behaviour of drivers and other road users, as well as poor maintenance and design of infrastructure. 

“Most of these accidents are avoidable, and at Mamoja we believe that a lasting change in workplace attitudes and culture is necessary - from everyone who works in the transport industry - is necessary,” continues Ngxeketo. “In order to deliver the biggest possible impact, we need to ensure that our safe vehicles are driven by safe drivers on safe roads.” 

Strong support

A number of key industry stakeholders participated in the launch – from both government and private sector organisations.

North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management Control Provincial Inspector Johan Esterhuizen said that road users should always be considerate of other road users. “Our Department has built a working relationship with Mamoja because it’s an RTMS certified company and safety is the priority,” he said.

Accident survivor and motivational speaker Nicole Melck shared a moving message about the importance of buckling up and how her life changed after a head-on collision.  The Mamoja team and campaign partners shared safety messages and gave away safety goodie bags to truck drivers on the N4 and Mmaditlokwa bridge towards Sibanye Stillwater and Tharisa Mines. 

Some of the companies which partnered to support Mamoja’s safety initiative are Standard Bank, Unitrans, Grow Supplier ZA, Concentrate Carriers, JC Auditors, TSE Big Max, Fleet Watch, Atarah Solutions, Ndima Management Systems Consulting, Nthome Transport and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport SA. Mining companies which fully supported the campaign are Sibanye Stillwater and Sylvania Mines. Maruatona and Jabula transport companies were also present.