 
Testimony of a Road Accident Victim
THERE is a tendency amongst most drivers and pedestrians to become more cautious during the festive season because they believe this is time when the Department of Transport intensifies its policing of the roads in South Africa. This is a dangerous perception, because the policing of the road continues throughout the year. It is not necessarily that accidents only occur during the festive season, it can occur at any time. Now the Department has come up with another strategy of giving victims a platform to tell the public how it is like to be involved in an accident. When one listens to road accidents victims recollecting their experiences, it becomes so painful, emotionally and otherwise, that no one would want to be involved in an accident. This is done mostly during road safety campaigns and recently, Ms Gugu Mkhwanazi who became disabled due to a horror accident, had this to say. "I must first thank Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele for the work he has done to make KwaZulu-Natal a better place to drive in. I know most of the time we criticise the authorities believing they are not doing enough to bring down the horrendous accident figures we have every year. I have a request to make to Minister Ndebele regarding the protection of victims involved in road accidents. They must introduce a law to protect victims because presently we have a crisis. In 2000 I was driving from Zululand to Durban and I was distracted by another car that was driving north. This led to my vehicle going off the road and landing up in a ditch. Even though there were no fatal casualties, it caused serious damage to my lower part, which eventually landed me in a wheelchair. My physical life has been completely changed though it has made me mentally strong. In fact I am more determined now than I was normal. I say there must be a law that protects the victims because after the accident I was turned down by the Road Accident Fund because there was no proof as to who was responsible for the accident because the other driver had sped away before I could get his details. Even though my intention was not to make money, every one has to have money to survive, particularly in case such as mine where I am unable to find work and also require cash to pay for my ongoing medical expenses. The situation becomes even worse if you do not have medical aid. My advice to victims of road accidents is that they must not despair but to meet people who can give them the necessary emotional support and that the affected person must do everything possible, physically and mentally, to make life more comfortable for themselves. This is what has made me confident enough to sit in front of a huge gathering and share my experiences with others. This helps me to gather even more courage to continue making my life a better one. The challenge never ends and it depends on how you respond to it.
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