3 killed in N2 Pongola truck collision

THREE people have been killed in a tragic collision involving a truck and light motor vehicle on the N2 in Pongola yesterday afternoon.

Two other people were seriously injured in the crash which occurred shortly after 4pm.

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Motorists are urged to exercise extra caution as one lane is currently closed during the recovery process.

MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma has sent his condolences to the families of the three victims.

‘Our highly efficient and dedicated team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate is working with emergency rescue services, traffic officers from the local municipality and other agencies. RTI has handed over the matter to the SAPS for a formal investigation into the cause of the accident,’ said the media statement.

Intensify operations
Meanwhile, the MEC has vowed to intensify operations targeting trucks in more than 17 weighbridges across the province including the N2 and N3. This comes after a reported increase in the number of fatalities and severe injuries associated with horrific accidents involving trucks.

‘On Wednesday, we started a major operation involving monitoring truck activities in weighbridges across the province. We arrested 10 undocumented foreign nationals, including three truck drivers with no Professional Driving Permits and other relevant documents,’ said the statement.

According to the report, the most vehicles weighed at a single weighbridge were 40 441 vehicles at the Midway weighbridge, with an average of 3 370 vehicles weighed per month.

This is 33% lower than the highest monthly average of 5,027 vehicles weighed in 2023/24 which was recorded at the Mpofana weighbridge.

The lowest number of vehicles weighed was 433 vehicles at the Gingindlovu weighbridge, representing an average of 36 vehicles per month.

This is 84% lower than the lowest monthly average recorded at the Gingindlovu weighbridge in 2023/24.

Over the past months, 207 891.00 vehicles were weighed at the KZN DoT weighbridges, of which 48 973 (23.6%) were overloaded and 5 842 (2.8%) chargeable.

‘Finally, we are in touch with the Minister of Transport Barbra Creecy. Following the announcement that six new train operating companies (TOCs) will soon start transporting coal and chrome along the North Corridor, we are hopeful that in the not too distant future, millions of tons of freight will shift from trucks to rail,’ said the statement.

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