The IFP in the KZN Legislature is calling for urgent action to stop the carnage on KZN’s provincial roads.
On Wednesday evening, seven people were killed and several others injured when a minibus taxi and a car collided and burst into flames on route P291, between Nquthu and Babanango.
As the IFP, we want to express our deep concern over the ever-increasing number of motor vehicle accidents on our provincial roads.
If we want to stop the high number of deadly road accidents, it will require urgent action from all of us – not only from the government. As citizens, we need to change our attitude towards road safety. When a traffic officer waves down a motor vehicle to do his duty, passengers and drivers often complain. As officers go about their work and try to manage traffic jams in and around KZN, many motorists get angry with them.
Citizens need to be made aware of the heavy cost in lives lost on KwaZulu-Natal’s roads. Citizens need to cooperate with traffic officials, and respect the rules of the road. We cannot leave the responsibility of road safety to the traffic officers. Everybody is a partner in the fight.
We further believe that traffic authorities must go back to the drawing board and investigate why road accidents continue to increase. Current road safety initiatives must be evaluated to determine whether they are effective in reducing road accidents or whether there is room for improvement.
In addition, the Department of Transport should bear part of the blame for road accidents and fatalities, as there are simply not enough traffic officers on our roads.
The IFP has made numerous calls to the KZN MEC for Transport, advocating for heightened vigilance and for officers to be deployed 24/7. Sadly, these calls have not resulted in any action and the status quo remains, with accidents becoming commonplace on our Province’s roads.
The IFP calls for a thorough investigation into the P291 accident that claimed the lives of seven people between Nquthu and Babanango. Further, the IFP would like to send its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, and wish those who are injured a speedy recovery.
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Contact
Hon. Steven Moodley, MPL
IFP KZN Spokesperson for Transport
083 253 2277