AfriForum put up signs to curb accidents on R38
A local farmer has even resorted to digging a trench along side his fence in order to prevent vehicles crashing into his land
HIGHVELD – The T-junction on the R38 road from Bethal and eMzinoni towards Standerton has seen an alarming increase in vehicle and truck accidents.
According to Mr Hennie Bekker, who is the district coordinator for Lowveld District AfriForum, most of these accidents are caused by no visible signs warning motorists of the crossing.
Upon visiting the site, it was clear that this crossing had seen its fair share of accidents with meters long tyre tracks, muddy embankments where vehicles had come to a stop and debris strewn all over the place.
A local farmer has even resorted to digging a trench alongside his fence to prevent vehicles from crashing into his land.
The farmer had also seen his fair share of continuously replacing his fence.
The latest fatal accident on this stretch of road claimed the life of an off duty police officer from Bethal.
The Ridge Times is yet to receive information regarding details around this incident.
According to Mr Bekker, a local farmer is still in hospital after sustaining serious injuries to his back in one of the most recent accidents reported on this road.
The family wished not to comment on the man’s current condition.
“There are no warning signs.
“We cannot wait for another fatal accident to happen before something is done,” said Mr Bekker.
He is now calling on the MEC of Mpumalanga’s Department of Roads and Transport to urgently place speed bumps and visible signage on this stretch of road.
Meanwhile, to help curb accidents, AfriForum, together with Bethal Police, CPF and Duetrans, have now placed several signs every couple of hundred meters to warn motorists of the crossing.
