Pretoria – The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, has called on all road users, especially drivers, to be extra vigilant on the road.
The MEC’s call comes after Saturday's fatal accident involving three vehicles, which claimed six lives on the R66 outside Melmoth.
This accident follows Friday's crash involving a minibus taxi, whose driver was under the influence of alcohol, that killed 14 people at a SAPPI factory along the P197 road near uMkhomazi.
Initial reports by the Department of Transport's Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) unit revealed that a head-on collision occurred on the R66 at around 8pm on Saturday.
It is believed that the accident happened when a car attempted to overtake two vehicles on a blind rise. This resulted in a head-on collision in which six people were killed on the scene. The injured were taken to KwaMagwaza Hospital.
Mchunu, who had rushed to the scene of Friday’s crash, expressed shock at the recent spate of accidents, and called on all motorists to exercise vigilance on the road.
"It is unacceptable that we are losing so many people simply because some motorists, drivers specifically, are deliberately disrespecting our road traffic rules. These traffic transgressions are costing lives and resources, causing untold pain to families who lose their loved ones.
“On behalf government, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased," said Mchunu.
“As we are approach the festive season, we will be intensifying law enforcement by increasing traffic police visibility. In the meantime, I have assigned a team of senior officials to meet with the bereaved families of the uMkhomazi accident and another team will be meeting the Melmoth families tomorrow," he added. – SAnews.gov.za
