The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu, has expressed his deepest condolences to the people of Mpumalanga province and the country at large after Wednesday night's gruesome accident that claimed the lives of 10 people in White River.
According to reports, last night (4 June 2014) along the R40, Hazyview Road, in White River, Mpumalanga province, a truck driver lost control, colliding partially head-on with a bus. Thereafter, a Toyota RAV 4 passenger vehicle, unaware of the accident that had already taken place, collided onto the wreckage.
All vehicles caught fire and were burnt almost beyond recognition. This resulted in the death on the scene of 10 people who were also reportedly burnt beyond recognition, the serious injury of six people and slight injuries of 36 more, who were taken to hospital to receive medical care.
We share in the sorrow of the families who lost their loved ones, and wish speedy recovery to the injured citizens. On behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, we also extend our sympathies to our colleagues in the Mpumalanga provincial government, especially MEC Vusi Shongwe.
We know what the families and the government are going through, given our continued struggle to end the road carnages in our own province, which also yesterday reported the loss of three lives in an accident in Newcastle. It is only when we start accepting that road safety is an individual and collective responsibility that we would win the battle and save lives of our people, said Mchunu.
Mchunu further appealed to motorists to put on their headlights, observe speed limits and all road rules in light of the predicted bad weather conditions in the country where heavy rains are expected in the next few days.
Media contacts:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462 / 079 699 5755
E-mail: kwanele.ncalane@kzntransport.gov.za
Nathi Sukazi
Cell: 082 5654 0205/ 081 018 0518
E-mail: nathi.sukazi@kzntransport.gov.za
Twitter: @KZNTransport
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