Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has conveyed condolences to the families of more than twelve people killed on the country's roads over the past 24 hours.
"We want to express our condolences to the families and relatives of all those killed in these road crashes. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families. We wish the injured a speedy recovery," said the Minister.
Earlier today, 2 November 2009, ten people were killed and several others injured in a road crash near Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape involving a midi-bus and a mini-bus.
Yesterday, 1 November 2009, Deputy Minister of Housing Zoe Kota-Fredericks was involved in a car crash on the N1 near Leeu Gamka in the Western Cape. It was reported that the Deputy Minister and her driver were driving on the N1 in the direction of Cape Town when they collided head-on with a bakkie 20 kilometres outside Leeu Gamka. The occupants of the bakkie, a father and son, were killed. The deputy minister was slightly injured while her driver sustained an injury to his leg.
Minister Ndebele has called on all road users, particularly public transport operators and drivers, to exercise extreme caution on the country's roads.
"We want to appeal to all road users to obey all road rules and exercise extreme caution on the roads. We want to make a special plea to public transport operators and drivers to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy as we cannot continue putting the lives of innocent commuters at risk. This unnecessary loss of lives on our roads must be brought to an end," said the Minister.
Issued by: Department of Transport
2 November 2009
