A team of crash scene investigators have been deployed by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to the Eastern Cape to investigate a major collision that claimed 14 lives yesterday.
RTMC said a minibus crashed head-on with an SUV at approximately 5:30am on the N9 between Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg.
“Six people who travelled in the SUV and eight occupants from the minibus died instantly on the scene.”
According to the RTMC, 11 people were transported to a hospital.
“It has been established that the SUV was travelling from Middelburg to Graaff-Reinet and the minibus was travelling in the opposite direction towards Middelburg when they collided head-on,” said the corporation, adding that the cause of the crash is unknown and is subject to the ongoing investigation.
The RTMC appealed to motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads at this time of the year. “Law enforcement officers will continue to maintain a strong presence on the roads throughout this period, and those who disregard the rules of the road will be held to account.”
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa offered condolences and support to the families of the deceased.
In KZN, Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma attended the mass funeral yesterday of five family members from the Gumede family who died in a road accident.
Nonzuzo Gumede and her four children Samkelo, Mpendulo, Mnqobi, and Nqobile were travelling on the N3 in the vicinity of Harrismith when their car collided head-on with a truck.
“No family deserves such pain, especially when it is this time of the year when all families are spending time with their loved ones," said Duma.
The Department assisted the family to bury their loved ones and thanked neighbours as well as religious leaders for the support that is being extended to the family.
Duma said the department continues to intensify its road safety campaign throughout the province.
“We have charged and arrested more than 10 taxi drivers for driving passengers without a professional driving permit (PrDP). This includes a driver from the Eastern Cape who was involved in a collision on the N3, Van Reenen Pass,” he said.
In particular, we wish to warn taxi drivers driving from other provinces that we will have no mercy against anyone driving passengers without a professional driving permit (PrDP).
“Our team is carrying out our road safety operations in other satellite stations such as Gingindlovu, Jozini, Phongolo, and others, bringing the total number of stations to 26,” said the MEC.
Meanwhile, the long weekend started off on a bad note after a truck from Zambia loaded with copper experienced brake failure and plunged into a bus and two cars at the Mariannhill Toll Plaza.
The MEC said 10 passengers from the bus were taken to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital for medical attention.
Duma said the driver admitted that the truck experienced brake failure, and as such, the department believes that the owner of the truck must be held accountable.
He said the province is strengthening roadworthiness inspections through the deployment of 197 traffic officers from the RTMC to augment the more than 2,745 traffic officers.