KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu described this weekend as grim following the tragic death of 18 people on various roads in the province.
Mchunu also expressed his shock following the death of seven people in a terrible accident that happened at Caluza road and Mpumuza intersection, outside Pietermaritzburg.
According the report, a VW Golf collided head-on with a VW Fox at around 20h40 last night. Six people died on the scene and one later died in Edendale hospital. All four occupants in a VW Fox died and three were from the VW Golf.
Two occupants in a VW Golf sustained injuries and were treated and discharged in hospital last night. All the deceased are between the ages of 25 to 40 years. Mchunu revealed that an independent investigator has been appointed to deal specificity with the Pietermaritzburg accident.
“It is unbelievable and acceptable that 18 people can be killed in two days. After losing more than 200 lives during the festive season holidays, I find it difficult to understand that we continue to lose so many people on provincial roads. I condemn those drivers who disregard the traffic rules. They are letting us down and causing pain to the nation. I am calling on all road users in the province to respect the rule of law and to come out strongly to condemn reckless drivers on our roads. We all need to work together to reduce this scourge. On behalf of the provincial government I would like to send our deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones,” said Mchunu.
Mchunu also express concerns over people who are drinking and driving as this contributes to fatal accidents. “Drinking and driving is a serious offence and has proved to the worse cause of road accidents and we must all fight this social ill,” said Mchunu.
More than 1 720 people were arrested for drunken driving over the festive season in the province.
Enquiries:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462/ 076 699 5755
