Ten killed in accidents on Nkomazi’s roads in one week
Ten people were killed in three accidents in Nkomazi over the past week. Cases of culpable homicide were opened and are being investigated by the police.
KAMHLUSHWA – A truck driver was killed on Wednesday afternoon, when two trucks collided on the N4 near the Kaalrug turn-off.
The other truck driver was seriously injured and is currently recovering in hospital.
The road was closed and traffic came to a standstill for about 45 minutes. Afterwards, the queues of traffic stretching kilometres could slowly move past the scene. It was only declared cleared around 17:40.
On Monday morning, Joseph Matshabaphala, a principal provincial traffic inspector, was killed when another vehicle collided with his on the N4 near the Nkomazi Toll Plaza.
An occupant of the other vehicle was also killed and the three others injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
The MEC for community safety, security and liaison (DCSSL), Pat Ngomane, extended his condolences and sympathy to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.
“Matshabaphala’s passing is deeply regrettable and it is also a grim reminder of the difficulty that the department faces in dealing with road safety,” he stated.
Matshabaphala was part of traffic law enforcement at the head office of the department and previously worked at the Malelane Cost Centre.
Ngomane said the officer left a huge void, would be greatly missed for the role he played in traffic law enforcement and that “the department will continue working hard to honour Matshabaphala’s memory and many other traffic officers who have passed on over the years”.
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On Friday morning, a trip to school turned to horror when five learners and a taxi driver were killed in a head-on collision between a minibus taxi and bus.
Emergency services were called to the D2940 between KaMdladla and Phiva at 07:00 to assist more than 25 injured people. They were taken to Tonga and Shongwe hospitals for treatment.
Frits Koekemoer of Swift EMS said that their ambulances and helicopters were utilised to move the patients to Sunshine Hospital in Johannesburg on Friday evening. A sixth learner died from his injuries on Monday.
A joint memorial service will be held at the Light Christian Fellowship Church in KaMdladla at 13:00 today (September 6).
The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday. Time and place will be announced at the memorial service.
The Democratic Alliance expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
It urged road users to be more vigilant to avoid accidents like this and called on the Mpumalanga traffic officials to be more visible and swiftly enforce traffic laws at all times.
READ: One fatality and several injuries due to road accidents over the weekend
To this end, a third shift for provincial traffic officers was implemented from Saturday. This was announced on the day by the head of the DCSSL, William Mthombothi.
The new shift aims to increase traffic officers’ visibility after hours and on weekends to address the deadly crashes that occur at these times.
