No lives lost on the Onderberg’s roads over Easter weekend

Despite thousands of motorists passing through the Onderberg over Easter weekend, no fatalities were reported.

TRAC announced on Tuesday morning that a total of 29 accidents were recorded over the weekend, compared to 73 in 2018. Although no one was killed on the N4 in South Africa, one person died in one of the nine accidents reported in Mozambique.

In the Onderberg, Frits Koekemoer of Swift EMS reported that a bakkie crashed off the road at the Mzinti bridge on Saturday morning. Six people were seriously injured and taken to hospital.

Yesterday morning at One Tree Hill, a taxi and car collided at around 05:30 and four people were slightly injured.

Monday’s lunch hour was the busiest time for the Lebombo Border Post, which had a queue of two kilometres for a while.

The Lebombo Border Post operated on a 24- hour basis over the weekend and will be open all day until Friday to accommodate any lingering holidaymakers.

TRAC contributed the decline in accidents to authorities’ increased visibility on the road. Emergency services and TRACAssist teams were stationed at various points along the route and several roadblocks were set up.

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Capt Magonseni Nkosi of Tonga SAPS said authorities were out in full force, conducting stop-and-searches and overall fewer serious crimes than usual were reported in the Tonga policing area.

SAPS and traffic officers arrested over 30 people for driving while under the influence of alcohol in the Tonga area over the long weekend.

Nkosi stated that the drunk drivers were arrested and later released on bail of around R1 500, after blood samples were taken for testing.

He mentioned that some drivers seemed not to take the arrests and fines seriously as one motorist was arrested on the same charge twice over the weekend.

Three rapes were also reported and a 16-year-old was arrested on Monday for possession of dagga on his way from Magugu to KaBokweni. He was released into the custody of his parents.

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According to provincial police spokesman, Col Leonard Hlathi, four rhino horns were recovered in the province on Thursday.

Three people were arrested in Komatipoort after police found two rhino horns hidden in their vehicle. An unlicensed firearm and four rounds of ammunition were also confiscated.

They were scheduled to appear in the Komatipoort Periodical Court on Tuesday.

Two other rhino horns were recovered during a stop-and-search by the Middelburg Flying Squad near Belfast. Two people, Alberto and Enersto Nhawelunga, were arrested and an unlicensed firearm and ammunition recovered.

The duo appeared in the Belfast Magistrate’s Court two days ago and were remanded in custody until their bail application on Tuesday (April 30).

In Marloth Park, six vehicles were broken into on Thursday and Friday and by Sunday, the CPF and law enforcement officers attended several noise complaints.

Komatipoort was also quieter than usual, according to Const Natacia Mbuyane. Two cases of assault involving drunk people were reported.

In Malalane, a quiet Monday washing cars was interrupted when a truck barreled past the barricade of tyres near Pick n Pay and crashed into Elegant Car Wash. No-one was injured, but a newly-erected fence, the pavement and a vehicle being washed were damaged.

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A case of reckless driving was opened against the driver and owner Stanley Thobela hopes that will prove a deterrent for other reckless truck drivers illegally parking and driving their vehicles in the residential area.