Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele on Saturday conveyed condolences to the families of 15 people who died in a taxi and a boating accident which occurred hours apart from each other.
“At least 15 people have been killed, six in a boating accident and nine in a minibus taxi road crash, over the past 24 hours,” he said in a statement.
Ndebele said his department would not compromise on safety in any mode of transport “be it air, road, rail or water”.
Nine people including three school children died and several others injured when their minibus taxi went over an embankment in Sterkspruit, in the Eastern Cape early on Saturday.
The accident happened hours after six people drowned in a boat accident in Witbank, Mpumalanga on Friday.
“This incident comes barely days after three children drowned last Sunday 1/8November 14 3/8 in a boating accident on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal,” said Ndebele.
He said the SA Maritime Safety Agency was working with the police water wing in investigating the boating accident at Witbank Dam.
An independent team of accident investigation and reconstruction specialists were also investigating the minibus taxi accident.
“As we head towards the December holidays, we are intensifying our safety programmes and enforcement in order to ensure safety in all modes of transport,” he said.
He called on transport operators and all citizens to be “responsible and make safety their top priority”. -
Sapa