Deidre Ribbonaar
Ms Ribbonaar is the Red Dot Project Lead within Transport Operations. She played a central role in conceptualisation and subsequent implementation of the Red Dot Project, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with minibus taxi industry partners. Red Dot was implemented by the Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, responding to the unique and unprecedented impact of COVID-19 in the Western Cape. It includes two specialised transport services, namely Red Dot Quarantine and Isolation and Red Dot Lite. The Project drew on mini taxi services to provide a completely new service to health care workers, as well as Q&I patients. Several “firsts” were achieved, ranging from the service itself; the partnerships; and technology utilised. Drivers underwent safety training, vehicles were fitted with protective screens and hand sanitiser, and vehicles were sanitised after every trip.