Minister visits KwaZulu-Natal road crash victims

12 Aug 2011

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele earlier today (12 August 2011)
visited people injured in yesterday's (11 August 2011) road crash
involving a mini-bus taxi on the N2 near Mandeni in KwaZulu-Natal, which
resulted in 11 fatalities.

The Minister, accompanied by the President of the South African National
Taxi Council (SANTACO) Mr A J Mthembu as well as officials from the Road
Accident Fund (RAF), KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and national
Department of Transport, visited the injured at Stanger Hospital.

According to KwaZulu-Natal Traffic Authorities, 10 adults and one child
were killed in the accident between a truck and mini-bus taxi. Several
others sustained multiple injuries. Officials from the RAF are also
visiting the families of the deceased to render assistance. The Road
Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has dispatched an independent team
of accident investigation and reconstruction specialists to assist in
the investigation of this crash.

"In the past five days (6 to 11 August), at least 34 people have been
killed in four separate crashes (two in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and
Mpumalanga) involving mini-bus taxis," said Minister Ndebele. "This is
indeed horrific and an unnecessary loss of innocent lives. We want to
convey condolences to the families of those killed and wish the injured
a speedy recovery. Government will do everything possible to assist the
injured as well as families of the deceased.

"The safety of passengers cannot be compromised, especially by public
transport operators and drivers. Law enforcement on public transport has
been intensified. SANTACO must be commended for stepping up its
Operation Hlokomela, through which the taxi industry themselves are
monitoring their drivers and operators to ensure that they maintain the
highest standards in providing safe, efficient and reliable transport.
Let us all harness our collective ability to tackle these appalling road
deaths, and together let us act decisively to save thousands of lives in
this global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020," said Minister
Ndebele.

To honour government's commitment to road safety, on 10 September 2010
Minister Ndebele announced the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan
(NREP) and committed to no less than a million vehicle checks every
month as of October 2010. In the past nine months (from 1 October 2010
to 31 July 2011), 11 745 526 vehicles and drivers have been checked, 4
847 526 fines issued for various traffic offences, 17 758 drunk drivers
arrested and 46 843 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are
buses and taxis) discontinued from use.

In addition during July 2011, the following arrests were effected:
drunken driving (930); reckless and/or negligent driving (70); excessive
speed (240); goods overloading (448); warrants of arrest (1960); public
transport permits (389); false documentation (27); no driver's licence
(44); other arrests (973).

Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050

Issued by: Department of Transport
12 Aug 2011