1 February 2007
MEC Fish Mahlalela of the Department of Roads and Transport in Mpumalanga
would like to express his deepest condolences to the family of the victims of
the horrible road accident that claimed the lives of 18 people last night.
Mahlalela said that this accident happened barely two weeks after the
provincial prayer in Belfast, which was aimed at requesting God to assist in
reducing fatalities on Mpumalanga roads.
He said the Department would make sure that investigations are conducted in
order to ascertain the cause of the accident on a stretch of a road that is not
notorious for road carnages.
The accident happened on 31 January at approximately 20h30 on the Standerton
/Kinross (R546) road when a sedan vehicle and a mini-bus taxi were involved in
a head-on collision. A truck that was following the sedan bulldozed the two
vehicles. Seventeen passengers from the mini-bus and the driver of the sedan
died at the scene.
Only three people, including the two drivers (truck and taxi) and one
passenger who was seated on the front seat survived the accident. The survivors
were taken to the Evander Hospital for treatment.
The minibus taxi was travelling from Embalenhle Taxi Rank to the Eastern
Cape province.
Mahlalela urged motorists to take extra caution when driving and mind their
behaviour so as to avoid fatal accidents.
For more information contact:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: (013) 766 6886
Cell: 082 678 1450
Vukani Mnyandu
Tel: (013) 766 6228
Cell: 083 9560 700
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
1 February 2007
