Head-on collision results in the death of five people on the R102 in Darnall
Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House: We wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of the 5 victims of a road accident that occurred last night in R102, Darnall.
Our team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate is working with SAPS as part of establishing the cause of the accident.
Preliminary investigations indicate that two vehicles collided head-on at high speed.
We undertake to ensure that we are closer to the families of the deceased during this difficult period.
Unfortunately, this road accident took place after the Inter-faith Road Safety Prayer involving religious leaders and communities.
It was agreed yesterday that between now and the festive season, road safety campaigns involving a multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement officers will be intensified.
The roadblocks at various strategic routes are focusing on drunken driving, roadworthiness and other offences.
Yesterday morning we conducted a successful roadblock in Oribi Toll Plaza, in Ugu District Municipality.
This is what we achieved:
? About 671 vehicles were stopped;
? About 50 motorists were charged for traffic offences;
? About 6 taxis were impounded for transporting passengers without operating licences;
? 1 driver was arrested for drunken driving. He is a police officer stationed at the King Shaka International Airport;
? About 4 vehicles were suspended for unroadworthiness.
? About 5 foreign nationals were arrested by Immigration & Customs Unit of the Department of Home Affairs for being in the country illegally without permits.
Critically, as we move forward we undertake to intensify our road safety campaigns by focusing on key areas.
? Education and Awareness: Through Traffic Reporters such as Ayanda Msweli, we are planning to roll-out road safety and awareness campaigns.
We will be targeting young people who are yet to acquire drivers’ licences. We want to teach them good driving habits before they acquire bad driving habits such as drinking and driving and not wearing seatbelts.
?Strict Learners and Driving Licence Processes: A week ago, about 33 people appeared before the Richards Bay Magistrates Court for acquiring drivers licences through fraudulent processes. To date, the list has increased to 67. We are intensifying our fight against the fraudulent syndicate operating in various licencing centres in municipalities.
We want to create a new culture. We say to communities, you must not get drivers licence in a hurry just because it is a requirement for the job.
We want to use life skills period to teach young people about road safety in South Africa. By the time our learners are 17-years of age they must receive their learners licence, by the time they are 18-years of age they must receive their driver’s licence.
?Road Infrastructure: We continue to use cutting edge technology as we construct roads that are safe and user friendly. A total of R8,7 billion is being spent on transport infrastructure.
Over R3,7 billion is going into constructing new infrastructural projects (roads and bridges), while over R4 billion has been set aside to maintain our road network.
In addition, over R58 million is going into infrastructure planning and design, with over R920 million being allocated to support programmes within transport infrastructure.
