The latest spate of horror crashes has got our Transport Minister vocal again.
Yesterday Sibusiso Ndebele was quoted as saying that reducing road deaths is not just desirable, but an urgent non-negotiable that has become the daily mission of the country's traffic authorities.
“It is time for all right-thinking and like-minded South Africans to say: Enough is Enough. We need to take back our roads,” he said.
Ndebele was responding to reports of two accidents in the Western Cape in which 13 people died on Monday.
Eight people died near Gouda when two trucks collided and were then hit by an earth mover. Five died in a second accident when a taxi hit a stationary truck on the N1 near Cape Town.
Another five people died near Ulundi, in KwaZulu-Natal, in a head-on collision on Monday night.
“World leaders needed to work together during the Decade of Action for Road Safety and share solutions on how to stop the carnage,” said Ndebele.
He also added that traffic authorities plan to stop and check a million vehicles and drivers every month this year and that dangerous drivers who were drunk, reckless or inconsiderate would be aggressively pursued.
Ndebele called on all people to be part of the Decade of Activism for Road Safety 2011 to 2020.
KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu said he was saddened and shocked at news of the accident near Ulundi on Monday.
“We appeal to everyone to define his or her role in reducing road carnage,” he said.
“We will intensify our road safety campaign under Operation Val'ingozi with a view to revive the consciences and morals of road users.”
Source: Sapa