Road safety in KZN

Sir,
Yesterday National Transport Minister Dipuo Peters confirmed that KwaZulu-Natal again accounted for the highest number of road accident-related deaths among the provinces this festive season, with 284 people losing their lives.
This is a devastating number, and the DA in KZN expresses its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. Of particular concern is the high number of pedestrian deaths, which stands at some 40% in any given year.  Yet the MEC, in an answer to a DA parliamentary question, says preventing pedestrians from accessing and using the freeways consumes too many of the department’s resources, so they have stopped the action. Then there is the issue of effective law enforcement. Non-compliance regarding vehicle and drivers’ licences remains critical. It is no secret that hundreds of vehicles and a vast number of drivers simply should not be on our roads, and corruption levels within the department itself need to be addressed without fear or favour.
The DA expects the MEC to take full responsibility for his department’s failure to provide a safe environment for road users in our province.  As the Transport head he owes it to the people of KZN. In particular he owes it to the many thousands who have lost loved ones on our roads.
Radley Keys, MPP