The Drive More Safely NPO brought this year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims to NG Kerk Suid-Oos on Sunday. A touching service was held against the backdrop of a spike in fatalities in and around Vryheid.

Service reflects grief and personal loss in the community

The programme opened with a sermon by Ds Pieter Swanepoel, followed by a welcoming message from Mayor Mkhwananzi. Event organiser Alida Venter spoke openly about the toll of crashes in the area. She reminded everyone of Friday’s accident in KwaZulu-Natal in which an entire family died. She said she also lost a loved one and now speaks for victims who no longer have a voice. From July to September alone, she noted that 27 people died on Vryheid’s roads.

Music and messages underline the call for safer roads

Philip Kotze provided musical interludes, while Mr Legodu from the RTMC and Ms Zulu from the National Department of Transport delivered messages. Zulu said it was a day to remember those who died and to honour emergency services. She also raised concern about Vryheid’s potholes, warning that poor road conditions contribute to serious crashes.

Local government pledges urgent intervention

Mayor Mkhwananzi acknowledged the issue and said that the state of local roads needs urgent action. “It is unacceptable to have so many fatalities on the roads around Vryheid. We need to do our best to fix potholes, as they are one of the main causes of crashes,” he said.

Candle-lighting honours victims and highlights urgent safety message

A candle-lighting ceremony honoured lives lost, before Brigadier Khumalo of the SAPS Zululand Cluster closed with a vote of thanks. A convoy then moved through Kerk Street with sirens blaring – to drive home the message of safer roads – before heading to the Junction.

Global remembrance day highlights devastating toll of road crashes

World Day of Remembrance, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 60/5, honours road crash victims and the emergency workers who respond. The World Health Oeganization (WHO) reports that road crashes kill more than 1.35 million people each year, with young people and vulnerable road-users at most risk. The day also supports the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which aims to reduce global deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.