CAPE TOWN - The death of nine people on Thursday has spiked the number of fatalities on Western Cape roads to more than 110 since the start of the festive season.
ANC treasurer in the Central Karoo, Ronnie Klink, his son and daughter were among six people who died after their vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a minibus taxi on the N1 between Beaufort West and Leeu Gamka.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson Deanna February said their teams responded to the incident around 12:50am.
“The incident involved ten patients in total. Unfortunately, six patients sustained fatal injuries, one patient sustained serious injuries and two minor injuries.
“One patient was transported to Beaufort West Hospital and one refused transport. A total of two ambulances, a rescue vehicle and two response vehicles were on scene,” said February.
Transport spokesperson Jandre Bakker said three people also died in a crash in the direction towards Murraysburg.
The incidents happened about three days after eight people, including two children, were killed in a horrific head-on collision on the notorious N1 death stretch outside Beaufort West.
MEC for transport Daylin Mitchells identified the N1 as hotspot for road crashes.
“There have also been a lot of accidents on the West Coast and Garden Route but also other places across the province.
“Following the launch of the festive safety plan, I joined traffic officials' inspection operations across the province and have seen an increase in vehicles going to holiday destinations.
“The difference in the number of people who died in accidents during this period compared to the same period last year is that we were under tougher national disaster restrictions during that period,” he said.
Mitchell was speaking at the busiest long distance transport interchange in the province, Joe Gqabi Bus Terminus in Philippi.
He urged drivers to get commuters safely to their destinations and not to drink and drive.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula expressed his concern on Wednesday over the high number of major crashes.
He released the provisional festive season statistics noting an increase of 49.3% from 71 fatalities last year to 106 over the same period in the Western Cape.
Tributes poured in for Klink and his family on Thursday.
ANC spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said: “Comrade Ronnie respected people and treated them with dignity. His ways won him many friends, comrades and veneration wherever he went. He was a true comrade. We will miss him. We want to extend our condolences to Comrade Ronnie’s wife, Linda, family, and comrades. And we dip our banner in honour of him.”
Cape Times