The Minister of Transport statement on the spate of road crashes and fatalities in major parts of our country roads
The Minister of Transport, Mr Joe Maswanganyi, appeals to all motorist to be circumspect when using our roads. This follows a spate of road crashes and fatalities in major parts of our country roads.
A major crash occurred on Saturday 1, July 2017 at approximately 1h35 on the R82 between Koppies and Sasolburg, Free State province. In this regard, a Toyota Quantum and a Minibus overturned and five people were killed. The precise cause of the crash is still subject to the ongoing investigation.
A preliminary investigation is been conducted on a major crash that occurred on the N8 between Botshabelo and Bloemfontein in the Free State province.
A bus and a truck was involved in a head rear type crash that resulted in six (6) fatalities and approximately fifty- four (54) people sustained injuries. It is alleged that the bus drove into the truck that was broken down.
This morning, Tuesday, 4 July 2017, at approximately 06h50 on the R541 ( Machado to Badplaas road) between Machadodorp and Slaaihoek turnoff in Mpumalanga, a Mozambican articulated truck, a Midibus and a Taxi Minibus were involved in a head on collision and side swipe crash respectively. It is alleged that eighteen (18) people are diseased and fifteen (15) seriously injured. Of the deceased, sixteen (16) died on the scene and two (2) in hospital.
The taxis were ferrying Nkomati Mine workers and they were alleged on their way to work. . Investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the fatality rate as other people were still entrapped.
“It is saddening to note that the scourge of road carnages continue to rob families of their loved ones, their fathers, mothers, daughters and sons. Since these eventful moments, the life of these families will change for the worst and life will never be the same again,” lamented Minister Maswanganyi.
Although investigations are still ongoing in the crashes reported above, our reports generally indicates that human factor remain the major cause of the majority of road crashes in our country.
Minister Maswanganyi has instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to conclude their audit of how driving licences as well as roadworthy certificates are processed and issued in our testing stations, so that we can have an appreciation of how it is possible that so many incompetent drivers and un-roadworthy vehicles could be on our roads.
Equally important is to understand the role played by private testing stations and driving schools in facilitating the issuing of documents to unqualified motorists. It is therefore expected that on the basis of the findings, it would be expected that the affected individuals would be called back for re-evaluation.
“South Africans, if you got your learners and driver license through dubious means know that you will soon lose it. It cannot be that people can escape with such impunity. Our people deserve the best and it is our duty to uproot these much detested practices and
get to the core of the causes of these carnages and fatalities” said Minister Maswanganyi.
Minister Maswanganyi further indicated that our traffic law enforcement officers will continue to conducted more roadblocks throughout the country. Of particular interest our law enforcement operations will target enforcement of legislation of wearing seatbelts, using cell phones while driving, un-roadworthy vehicles, whilst they continue to clamp down on drunken driving, excessive speed and other moving violations.
“I take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones on our roads and i wish well all those who are still recuperating in hospitals as well as at home, Minister Maswanganyi said.
Enquiries:
Mr Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 072 566 0827
