MEDIA STATEMENT

BLEAK MORNING FOR ROAD SAFETY IN KWAZULU-NATAL

KwaZulu-Natal's Asiphephe road safety programme was dealt a double blow today when 17 people were killed in two separate crashes on the N3 in the early hours of this morning. This now brings the death toll on KZN roads to 79 since the start of the festive season.

In the first collision, which is reported to have occurred on the N3 near the Tugela Engen One-Stop, just outside Ladysmith at approximately 05h00, the driver of a bus belonging to City to City Bus Company from Gauteng allegedly collided into the rear of a stationary heavy motor vehicle, which was parked in the emergency lane. Nine people were killed; two were seriously injured and 56 other people sustained slight injuries as a result of this crash.

The second incident is reported to have occurred at approximately 04h45 on the N3 at least 15 kilometres before the Escort Ultra City when the driver of a minibus taxi en route from Pretoria to the Eastern Cape hit into the rear of a moving heavy motor vehicle. Eight people including two children were killed instantly; four people sustained serious injuries and seven others were slightly injured. It is further alleged that the driver of this taxi was travelling at a speed of 120 km/h instead of the permissible 100 km/h and that the driver drove for a continuous period of more than six hours.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S'bu Ndebele was lost for words at the news of these crashes. "We have done so much to warn drivers of public transport vehicles including offering free roadworthiness checks at our test centres. In recent weeks I have made several pleas to all bus operators as well as taxi operators to ensure that drivers are not overworked and are given enough rest to prevent or at least to minimise driver fatigue. Yet again on Thursday, when I was invited to a road safety initiative hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Council (KWANATACO) on the N2 near Groutville, I made the same plea to all public transport operators and drivers. However, drivers are still insistent on driving at excessive speeds and driving whilst being fatigued. Therefore, I am thoroughly distressed to be confronted with this tragedy." Mr Ndebele said.

The Minister went on to point out that road safety was a simple matter of common sense, good judgement and a mature and responsible attitude towards one's fellow citizens.

"I will ensure that stern action is taken against guilty operators and drivers. We are also working closely with the South African Police Services and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to ensure that stiff sentences will be imposed in these cases. This type of behaviour amounts to mass murder, not just negligence because it is the unlawful and intentional killing of innocent human beings," Minister Ndebele said.

"With just a few days to go before Christmas, I still want to make an urgent plea to all bus operators, taxi operators and other road users not to play with the lives of innocent passengers. It is beyond the power of any traffic officer to detect a driver who had not had enough sleep," Mr Ndebele said.

"Can a few hundred rands that would have gone towards employing a relief driver or towards ensuring that the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition - can these few hundred rands be worth more than this number of lives? My deepest condolences go the bereaved families and I want to wish those injured a speedy recovery", Minister Ndebele said.

Traffic officials will be out in full force this weekend as many people are expected to take off from work to enjoy an extended long weekend.

Traffic volumes are likely to increase today and every available traffic officer will be deployed along major routes in the province to monitor traffic flows and to clamp down on dangerous drivers. Motorists are warned to obey the rules of the road and to ensure the safety of other road users.

No mercy will be shown to road users who disobey road rules.

To this end, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport's Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) charged motorists for 26 645 various road traffic offences since the start of the festive season.

For further information and enquiries please contact John Schnell on 083 6444 057 or Colin Govender on 082 808 1733.

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