MEDIA STATEMENT

FIVE PEOPLE KILLED IN ROAD CRASH

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Safety and Security, Mr Bheki Cele, has instructed his departmental officials to immediately commence another phase of Operation Shanela and to show no mercy to public transport drivers and operators who flout the law.

Cele's call comes after five people were killed in a road crash involving a Toyota bakkie on the N2 near Jozini in northern KZN at about 15:30 today. According to initial reports, it is alleged that the driver of the bakkie was on his way back home to the Maphaya area near Jozini from a funeral in Piet Retief when he lost control of his vehicle after the front right tyre burst and crashed into a tree. Five people (one male and four females) were killed instantly. Nine others (three males and six females), including the driver and an 18-month-old baby boy sustained multiple injuries and were admitted to the Bethesda Hospital near Mkuze.

"We cannot go on like this. In just three weeks we have lost almost thirty people in three road crashes and in all these crashes human error was a major contributory factor. I have instructed my Head of Department Dr. Kwazi Mbanjwa to immediately come up with a special operational plan that will commence as soon as possible, specifically targeting the public transport industry.

These operations must send out a loud and clear message to both legal and illegal public transport operators that we will not tolerate this manslaughter. Those who blatantly disregard the law and persistently refuse to heed our warnings should not be part of our society. They must rather languish in jail than being allowed to kill innocent people," Cele said.

On 5th August, fourteen (14) people were killed and six others injured on the R34 between Empangeni and Richards Bay in a road crash involving a mini-bus taxi and a tanker.

On 20th August, eight (8) people, including a five-year-old child were killed and seven others injured on the R66 near Eshowe involving a Nissan bakkie. 

Cele has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, in the past week alone members of the KZN Transport Department's specialised Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU) arrested more than sixty bakkie operators and impounded their vehicles for illegally transporting passengers.

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