Acting KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison who is also KZN Health MEC, Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has expressed his concern after the death of six people in a gruesome accident that occurred last night in Swartburg.
Preliminary reports indicate that the deceased were trying to escape, in a bakkie that had 10 occupants, from police capture, and were travelling from Swartburg. The chase arose from a South African Police Service (SAPS) night operation of random checks but on stopping a bakkie, the latter fled until it failed to negotiate a bend and lost control, killing four occupants instantly. An additional two occupants in the bakkie died later in Usher Hospital in Kokstad, while the surviving four occupants were rushed to the hospital and remain in critical condition under police watch.
The bakkie was carrying eight bags of dagga.
"It is unfortunate that we lost the lives of six people from an accident that should have been avoided by simply obeying the law and cooperating with the SAPS, which was doing its law enforcement work.
We call on all citizens and road users to observe the law at all times, and work with members of our law enforcement teams, because it is the right thing to do for us to create a safe society. On behalf of the government, we would like express our condolences to the families of the deceased," said Dhlomo.
Enquiries:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462/ 079 699 5755
E-mail: Kwanele.Ncalane@kzntransport.gov.za
Nathi Sukazi
Cell: 081 018 0518/ 082 565 0205
E-mail: Nathi.Sukazi@kzntransport.gov.za
Tel: 033 355 0517/ 8664
