ROCKY DRIFT – It has been confirmed that seven people died on the scene of this morning’s accident. Three died of their injuries shortly after arriving at Rob Ferreira Hospital.
A woman who was in a critical condition, and subsequently airlifted to hospital, was declared dead on arrival. This brings the total death toll to 11.
This tragedy struck on the R40 at 07:00 this morning.
A taxi carrying 15 passengers, on its way from Kabokweni to Mbombela, failed to stop at the R40 intersection. It is suspected that the brakes might have failed or that the driver of the minibus was travelling at a high speed.
The taxi went straight over the R40. The driver lost control when the taxi hit the kerb separating the two lanes, went through a ditch and flipped on this impact. The passengers were flung out, landing several metres from the vehicle.
This impact resulted in the deaths and the horrific injuries.
MEC for safety and security Mr Vusi Shongwe, who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident, said that this was a sign that motorists do not adhere to the rules of the road and the law must take its course to ensure that the drivers who caused these accidents are prosecuted.
“Minibus drivers must always take a responsibility of the lives of passengers they are transporting. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that his passengers reach their destination safe.”
“Taxi owners must ensure that their drivers are properly trained and fit to be on the road. We can’t lose so many lives due to recklessness of drivers,” said Shongwe.
The MEC wished a speedy recovery to those in hospitals.
“The Mpumalanga Province is once again robbed of its people – the family bread-winners, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.” These were the words of the Speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Ms Thandi Shongwe, after the province was shaken by this accident.
“As the Mpumalanga Legislature we send our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families following another devastating accident in our province.”
Shongwe called upon the people of the province to pray for the province and for the end to the carnage on our roads. She said, “The loss of one life is enough to cause devastation but when so many lives are lost it becomes difficult for the entire people of the province.”
“Our people are not supposed to die when going to work in the morning or when returning home in the afternoon but these things happen, even though government is doing much to ensure safety on our roads.”
The Speaker asked road users to be patient and to always check safety of their vehicles before joining the road in order to avoid such disastrous carnage.
Mbombela Local Municipality is also deeply concerned about the number of accidents on the roads in the jurisdiction of the municipality.
The executive mayor, Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi also lamented the fact that most of the casualties were still economically active people who are either breadwinners or heads of families and were leaving behind orphans.
“We appeal to all motorists to take extra care on the roads, especially those that ferry passengers,” the mayor said. “These are human beings whose responsibilities in society cannot be replaced,” he added.
“We send our condolences to all the bereaved families. Your loss is our loss as these departed individuals had a role to play in society and wish those that are injured a speedy recovery,” concluded Mathonsi.
The municipality will move swiftly to implement speed control measure on the stretch of road that has become a death trap. These will cover a wide range of interventions on the road surface as well as increased visibility of traffic control officers and operations to be stepped up as part of its efforts to save lives on the roads.
The municipality, in partnership with the provincial Department of Community Safety and Liaison and the Department of Public Works Roads and Transport view this last accident as a disaster that will need a collective effort to assist the bereaved families.
A task team has already been set up to look into this matter.
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