Four killed on Badftonein Road
A complaint to the Public Protector (PP) in Mbombela was lodged about the poor condition of the Badfontein Road (R36) after another horrific accident claimed the lives of four people recently.
The accident, on Friday April 2, prompted a local landowner using this road daily, Fritz Louw, to complain.
“This is an extremely busy road. The current state of this overworked stretch of road is appalling. The potholes are too numerous to count and in some instances, have turned into ditches that span the entire width of the road. This road is a shame and a disgrace for our country taking into account how many visitors from overseas we have on and around this road near the Kruger National Park. Fourty-ton trucks carrying ore from the nearby mines are slowly and gradually destroying our roads. Damage to vehicles, accidents and the stoppage of tourism to this beautiful part of our country are all the result of a no-caring attitude of the government, provincial and national,” Louw told Steelburger News/Lydenburg News.
In the latest accident, three family members travelling with a VW Polo were in a head-on collision with a taxi. The three family members, Tumi Tau (23), April Tau (39 and Martha Tau Mnisi (59) were employees of Lunsklip Fisheries. Their car collided with a taxi on its way to the informal settlement next to Kwena Dam.
An elderly Polish gentleman, Charles Baksai (86), who lived in a caravan in the informal settlement, was also killed. He was a regular feature next to the road in his blue overall, coat and red hat. He frequently received lifts to and from town from guest lodge owners and farmers.
On this fateful day the taxi gave him a ride. Witnesses alleged that both vehicles tried to swerve to avoid potholes and collided.
Elphus Shilane from the PP acknowledged the receipt of the email from Louw.
Lungile Skosana however advised Louw to first report the case to the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport. At the time going to press the Department did not respond to queries from Steelburger/ Lydenburg News.
