Ballito crash involving unlicensed KDM truck raises safety concerns

A crash involving an unlicensed municipal truck in Ballito has raised serious concerns about the safety and compliance of KDM’s vehicle fleet.

Speaking about the accident on April 16 at the Ballito Drive/Moffatt Drive intersection, Ballito resident Gavin Falcke said the dropside truck, fitted with a hydraulic crane, struck his 20-year-old daughter’s Mazda CX-5 so hard that it spun 180 degrees, causing an estimated R160 000 in damage.

“It is a miracle she is alive,” said Falcke. He asked that his daughter not be identified.

Photos taken at the scene show the KDM truck’s vehicle licence and operator card had expired on July 31 last year. Bobby Armour, from Bethlehem, witnessed the accident. According to his affidavit, seen by the Courier, the driver of the truck said the brakes had failed. Armour said the truck “shot forward over Moffatt Drive before coming to a standstill on the centre island” after the collision.

According to the affidavit, a man claiming to be in charge of KDM’s maintenance workshop, later told Armour at the Umhlali Police Station that the truck should not have been on the road.

The Courier sought clarity on several aspects of the accident from KDM, including whether brake failure contributed and if the truck was being used for official municipal duties or operated outside authorised channels.

We also queried oversight measures on the municipality’s fleet management, whether an investigation was being undertaken and if any disciplinary action had been taken against those involved. KDM had not responded at the time of publication.