The Portfolio Committee on Transport says the rate at which road accidents and related fatalities are happening is alarmingly high and should not be tolerated.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, sent condolences to the families of those who lost lives in car accidents in the Eastern Cape over the weekend. A record number (46) of people are reported dead in the Eastern Cape following road fatalities that occurred over the weekend on R408 between the towns of Willowvale and Butterworth, and on R61 between Cradock and Graaff Reinet.
“The country should move into the culture of passenger safety by ensuring that vehicles on the road and the drivers are fit for the purpose. It is unfortunate that road fatalities continue to rob families of breadwinners and relatives in the manner we saw over the weekend,” said Ms Magadzi.
“The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and all other relevant law enforcement agencies should up their game and not mostly focus on the festive season. Drivers ought to be alert at all times to the terrain of their localities. If during one ordinary weekend the country loses such a number of lives on the road, then it is the right time to reflect,” she said.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Sibongile Maputi
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
