The Deputy Minister of Correctional Services has called on South Africans to unite to stop senseless deaths on the roads which also claimed lives of five correctional officials in a tragic accident this week.
Deputy Minister Makwetla delivered an emotional eulogy in honour of five officials of Correctional Services and SAP Services at a mass funeral of four of the officials which was held at in Mahikeng North West province today 7 June 2014. He said "we must never accept as given road deaths during Easter weekends and December holidays because we have the power to change the carnage of fatalities on our roads".
The five correctional officials were fatally wounded when an breaking police car collided with their car head on killing five people on the scene including a policeman, while the sixth official was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
South Africa has the highest road deaths in the continent and the sixth in the world, a scenario described as unacceptable. Deputy Minister Makwetla said the accident robbed the department of invaluable experience of five officials that together accounted for over 100 years of experiences in corrections.
The criminal justice system in its entirety is 6 officials poorer due to the said accident. The Deputy MInister asserted that the attitude of drivers needs to change in using roads as the rate of deaths is unacceptable. The cultural behavior of South Africans need to change and "improve levels of discipline".
Over 2 000 people attended the mass funeral held at the Faithful Life Church in Mahikeng. (photos and audio clip of Deputy Minister Makwetla are available SMS your request)
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