Just as law enforcement officers were conducting a roadblock focusing on buses this morning (15 September), on the notorious Moloto Road in Pretoria, a family of four were killed in a road crash between a car and bus about 25 kilometres away from the roadblock.
According to traffic officials, it is alleged that the driver of the light motor vehicle lost control of the vehicle and collided head-on with the bus on Moloto Road in Pretoria at about 6 am this morning (15 September). All the occupants of the car, a family of four including a one-year-old girl and three-year-old boy, were killed. Passengers in the bus also sustained multiple injuries.
Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has conveyed condolences to the families of those killed. “We want to convey condolences to the families and relatives of those killed in this gruesome road crash, and wish the injured a speedy recovery. This is yet again an unnecessary loss of innocent lives,” said the Minister.
In KwaZulu-Natal this morning (15 September), nine school children were injured after the driver of the bakkie they were travelling in lost control and smashed into a tree near Pietermaritzburg.
Meanwhile, at the joint multi-disciplinary operation which commenced at 5 am this morning (15 September) on the Moloto Road, traffic officers stopped and checked more than 60 buses. At least 22 buses were discontinued from use, and taken to the Watloo Vehicle Testing Station for further testing.
During the past two weeks, from 31 August to 11 September, since the renewed focus on public transport, 71 985 public transport vehicles have been stopped and checked; 210 scholar transport vehicles, 47 buses, 108 mini-buses and 41 trucks have been discontinued from use; and 18 244 fines issued. More than 230 public transport drivers were arrested: 13 for drunk driving; 10 for excessive speed; 8 for reckless and/or negligent driving; 24 in connection with public transport permits and the majority, 171, for overloading.
On 31 August, Minister Ndebele instructed law enforcement officers to stop and check every bus and taxi on South Africa's roads, following the deaths of at least 76 people last month (August 2011) in eight separate crashes involving public transport vehicles (buses and mini-bus taxis) in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape.
One year since the announcement of the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) by Minister Ndebele on 10 September 2010, more than 18 000 drunk drivers have been arrested and 50 000 un-roadworthy vehicles removed from the country’s roads.
And this is just the beginning: Minister Ndebele has warned South Africans to obey road rules or pay the price.
“During this Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, traffic law enforcement will be intensified without compromise in order to make our roads safe. We want to warn South Africans to obey the rules or pay the price. Remember, you can run but you can’t hide. The carnage on our roads must be stopped,” Minister Ndebele said.
In the 10 months from 1 October 2010 to 31 August 2011, 12,984,120 vehicles and drivers were checked, 5 540 275 fines issued for various traffic offences, 18 527 drunk drivers arrested and 50 272 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are buses and taxis) discontinued from use.
Last month (August) alone, more than 4 000 arrests were effected and 3 429 vehicles discontinued from use, including the following arrests: drunk driving (769 – with the majority of 343 in Gauteng); reckless and/or negligent driving (88); excessive speed (162); passenger/goods overloading (64); warrants of arrest (1,929); public transport permits (516); false documentation (52); no driver’s licence (100); other arrests (436). From 1 to 31 August, 1 238 594 vehicles and drivers were checked and 692 749 fines issued for various traffic offences.
Enquiries:
Ashref Ismail
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