Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, accompanied by senior officials’ from the City of Johannesburg, Road Accident Fund (RAF) and Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) earlier today Sunday, 24 October 2010 visited the family of 15 year old Mpho Nyembe from Alexandra in Johannesburg, who was killed in a road crash on Friday, 22 October 2010 after being hit by a drunk and unlicensed teenager.
According to Johannesburg Emergency Services, Nyembe died and eight others were critically injured after being hit by a car driven by a 16 year old teenager in Alexandra. The driver was believed to have been drunk and unlicensed and had taken his parents' vehicle without their permission. Those injured include five learners’, a 35 year old woman with a toddler strapped to her back and her 10 year old son. Nyembe, a Grade 11 girl, died on scene. The learners’ attended Bhekilanga High School. The accident occurred about 300 metres away from the school. The boy was arrested on the scene. He faces a charge of culpable homicide, drunk driving and driving without a valid drivers' licence. He was expected to appear in court tomorrow Monday, 25 October 2010.
“The death of 15 year old Mpho Nyembe is an unnecessary waste of life. Through the RAF, government will assist the family with the funeral and we are trying to mobilise whatever other assistance we can. It is this type of illegal behaviour on our roads that makes us very angry and we must legally remove such drivers from our roads. This 16 year old did not only steal his parents’ vehicle but was also drunk and unlicensed. This was mindless, reckless and stupid. The law must take its course and the teenager must face the consequences of his actions,” said Minister Ndebele.
Meanwhile, at least 30 people were killed on South Africa’s roads over the past weekend, including 19 people who died yesterday Saturday, 23 October 2010 in a head-on collision between a mini-bus taxi and a bakkie at Franklin near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We want to express our condolences to the families and relatives of all those who lost their lives on the roads over the past weekend. We wish those injured a speedy recovery.
“As part of the ‘Make Roads Safe’ Campaign and new National Rolling Traffic Law Enforcement Plan (NREP), two motorists were arrested and detained in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday and yesterday 22 and 23 October 2010 for travelling in excess of 170 km/h (173km/h and 175 km/h) and will appear in court tomorrow, 25 October 2010. Since 1 October 2010, as part of the new NREP, more than 700 000 vehicles and drivers have been stopped and checked and thousands of fines issued for various traffic offences.
“As we head towards December, we are going all out to ensure safety on our roads. Traffic violations are not social misbehaviour; it is a crime. We want to warn road users who commit offences that they will be arrested and detained and will have enough time during their detention to contemplate their unlawful action. As government, our duty is remove unsafe drivers from our roads,” Minister Ndebele said.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
