Motorists across Nkomazi urged to slow down
Road accidents in Nkomazi have increased sharply over the last month and law enforcement has urged motorists to reduce their speed in populated areas.
KAMAQHEKEZA – Tonga police raised concerns over road safety in settlements after two accidents in their policing area in less than 48 hours.
On Saturday night a motorist lost control of a white Toyota bakkie at a curve in the road from Nkomazi Plaza to Ngwenyeni. The vehicle crashed into the fence of the nearby Department of Social Development building, and came to a stop in a ditch against a concrete block at the base of the gate.
On Monday around 06:20, a pedestrian was killed on the R571 between Nkomazi Plaza and the Managa Border Gate.
The man in his late 60s was fatally hit by a BMW sedan. Police are still investigating the incident.
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Several accidents have also reportedly taken place at the traffic lights that were installed at KaMaqhekeza and Tonga in June. Community members have told Corridor Gazette that many motorists still treat the intersections as four-way stops and called for more law enforcement, especially during peak times.
Capt Magonseni Nkosi of Tonga SAPS also expressed the police’s concern over the lack of road-safety education in schools. Motorists have complained that learners walk in the roads after school and cross it without checking whether it is safe.
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Nkosi stated that a young girl was hit by a vehicle on the R571 last Wednesday when she was walking home from school. According to the motorist, the child just walked onto the road into traffic.
The police officer urged principals to organise road-safety awareness initiatives to teach children about safe crossings and pedestrian behaviour.
Nkosi added that alcohol abuse among the youth is also a pressing concern. Two girls aged 15 and 16 were found drunk on a street in Tonga when police were patrolling over the weekend.
They told police that they had been visiting their relatives until about 22:00 and were headed home. When police offered to take them home, they fled.
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Nkosi urged parents to check where there children are, especially when it gets dark. Officers have noticed that many local youth have a tendency to lie and attend social events where they illegally sell alcohol.
These children are targets for human trafficking and police urge residents to report any incidents of attempted kidnappings or suspicious persons hanging around the community.
