Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has conveyed condolences to the families of twelve people, including nine children, who were killed in a collision between a truck and a bakkie in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, 14 December 2009.
According to preliminary reports, the drivers of the truck and bakkie collided head-on around 18h30 on the R603 near Umbumbulu. Police are investigating 12 counts of culpable homicide.
"We want to convey our condolences to the families of those killed and wish the injured a speedy recovery. The death of nine innocent children is an unnecessary loss of life. We cannot continue putting the lives of children at risk. This crash has deprived parents of children who died before their time. The Department of Transport has dispatched a team of accident investigation and reconstruction specialists to assist in the investigation of this crash and to determine the exact cause," said the Minister.
Meanwhile, Minister Ndebele has also warned public transport operators that, as part of the festive season traffic law enforcement plan, dedicated enforcement on public transport vehicles will be intensified.
"We welcome the removal of another 24 un-roadworthy Putco buses from Gauteng's roads yesterday, Monday, 14 December 2009. We want to warn public transport operators, particularly operators of buses and taxis, those more un-roadworthy vehicles will be taken off the roads in other provinces as well. During the festive season, many of our people will be using public transport to travel to and from their homes and we want to make a special plea to public transport operators to ensure vehicle and driver fitness and not to put the lives of commuters above profit.
"As part of the festive season traffic law enforcement plan, there will be dedicated enforcement operations targeting specifically public transport vehicles and any vehicle found to be un-roadworthy will be taken off the roads. We will focus on mass movement of vehicles along main arterial routes to different provinces after industries close. We will intensify enforcement on overloading of passengers. We urge operators to ensure that there are relief drivers on board where necessary and those drivers stop and take a break at least every two hours or 200 kilometres.
"We want to re-iterate that safety in all modes of transport (road, air, rail and sea) is a key priority of our government," the Minister said.
Road safety is everybody’s responsibility. All road users are encouraged to report bad driving on 0861 400 800.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
Issued by: Department of Transport
15 December 2009
