Johannesburg - People should be patient on roads near construction sites, Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza said on Saturday after an accident claimed the lives of 11 people.
“We urge all the road users to work with us as a provincial government in the fight against these cruel accidents,” Mabuza said in a statement.
“We can only win the war against accidents when we all play our part consciously in ensuring that all of us are safe and arrive (at) our destinations alive.”
A kombi and a truck collided head-on on the R23 between Perdekop and Standerton on Friday. Eleven people were declared dead on scene.
The Mpumalanga community safety department said the kombi they were travelling in failed to stop at a 'stop and go' construction site.
Two people were seriously injured and four others sustained minor injuries.
Mabuza said a preliminary report from the community safety office suggested that the driver of the kombi failed to stop at the “stop and go” site.
The driver allegedly continued to drive on the single lane afterwards.
“We would like to reiterate our stance that accidents are not only costly to government, but they rob families of their loved one and breadwinners, thereby creating a societal problem,” said Mabuza.
The Mpumalanga government was increasing infrastructure on the roads to ensure the roads were safe, he said. - Sapa