Johannesburg -
The Moloto road, where 29 people were killed and 30 others were injured when a bus and trick collided, was totally inadequate for use by buses, the PAC said on Tuesday.
“It is widely known that this road is totally inadequate for capacity of buses which brings slaves from labour reserves of KwaNdebele to serve the masters in the city of Tshwane,” Tshwane regional chairman Sbusiso Xaba said in a statement.
There was negligence in not applying norms and standards on guidelines for human settlement planning and design, with workers having to live 40km from their workplace, he said.
The collision occurred on Monday night along the Moloto road near Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga.
“The current regime has no desire to change apartheid orientation of spatial planning and exploitation relations with labour reserves,” said Xaba.
“The PAC demands immediate introduction of a passenger rail corridor... that moves from Marble Hall to the city of Tshwane via Bronkhorstpruit.”
This would greatly reduce the pressure on the Moloto road, which Xaba said was dangerous.
“The Moloto road must be expanded to allow better manoeuvring to be a stop gap while rail stock is being rolled out,” he said.
The Pan Africanist Congress expressed its condolences to the families of those killed in the accident, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Bus company Putco confirmed on Tuesday morning that the bus involved was from its fleet.
Spokesman Romeo More said the bus driver was among those killed.
“Putco's managing director Franco Pisapia expressed his shock at the horrific accident,” he said.
“A full investigation is under way to determine the exact cause of the accident and Putco will co-operate fully with authorities in this regard.” - Sapa