 
MEDIA STATEMENT
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S’bu Ndebele has highlighted the need to seriously look at the transportation of farm labourers by their employers. This follows the death of fourteen (14) farm workers who were killed instantly in a crash involving a truck, at approximately 15h45 today (2003-04-22) along the R68, forty kilometres from Melmoth towards Babanango. MEC Ndebele has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes those injured a speedy recovery. It is alleged that the driver of the truck in which approximately sixty (60) farm workers were being conveyed, lost control due to speed and overturned. Fourteen (14) workers, twelve (12) males and two (2) females, were killed instantly. The ages of the deceased range between 20 and 40 with the youngest being a 14 year old boy. Twelve (12) workers are in a serious condition and thirty four (34) others sustained cuts and bruises. The driver also sustained serious injuries. The injured were admitted to St. Mary’s, Nqutu and Nkonjeni Hospitals. MEC Ndebele says that along with the newly appointed MEC for Agriculture, Mr Dumisani Makahaye, they will call an urgent meeting with the KZN Agricultural Union to discuss the transportation of farm labourers to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. "This crash has highlighted the atrocious conditions under which agricultural workers are transported. We need the urgent co-operation of the farming community to assist in this regard. Quite often farm workers are transported by unlicensed drivers, which is a norm in farms situated away from public roads. The KZN Department of Transport will offer assistance to the farming community to improve their driving skills," Ndebele said.
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