BY ERIC MATOME KGOMO
Nkangala: Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), Vusi Shongwe, has welcomed the decrease in fatalities in the province as compared to the same period in 2019. The province has recorded 18 deaths as compared to 31 people losing their lives in 2019 during the Easter holidays. Seventy three people sustained serious injuries while 132 more people escaped with minor injuries. Out of 18 people who were killed, nine of them were pedestrians. The district with the most fatalities is Ehlanzeni with nine deaths, followed by Gert Sibande that recorded five fatalities and Nkangala District saw four people losing their lives on the road. Routes with the highest number of deaths are R40 and N4 toll road that recorded eight and five fatalities respectively. During operations, the provincial traffic officers have stopped and checked 32 303 vehicles on various roads across the province. Of the vehicles checked, about 6785 summonses were issued to motorist for various offences ranging from dangerous overtaking, skipping stop signs or red lights to overtaking dangerously, driving without wearing seatbelts and excessive speeding.
Over 100 vehicles were also discontinued for defects with regards to lights, brakes, indicators and tyres among others. The traffic officers at various weighbridges impounded 114 vehicles that were overloaded and these were mostly trucks. In 2020, during the same period, only seven people lost their lives, however, in the same year, the country was on lockdown at alert level 5 and during that period, there was no inter-provincial movement, as borders were closed and there were more restrictions in terms of movement as churches were not operating along with restaurants and entertainment facilities. After the release of the Easter weekend road crashes report by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula in Gauteng on Thursday 8 April, Shongwe attributed that the decreases was achieved after an impact made by the department to enhanced law enforcement visibility and increased cooperation among stakeholders.
Shongwe welcomed the fatalities decrease and said more still needs to be done to drastically reduce deaths and crashes. “We need to do more to make our roads safer, it cannot be right that many families are made dysfunctional as a result of losing their loved ones. Motorists must also play their role by using the road responsibly. One death on the road is one too many. That is why we continue to advocate for harsher punishment for those who are found guilty of breaking the rules,” he said.
Shongwe indicated that the statistics are not just numbers, but represents lifetime changes to many families that are affected. Furthermore, the MEC applauded all law enforcement officers who worked hard during the Easter holidays. “Had it not been for them, the situation could have been worse. We are enocuraging them to remain focused on their work and spare no efforts in bringing to book reckless and negligent drivers,” he said. Shongwe emphasized that he is pleased about motorists and road users who heeded the call to use the road safely and he is appealing to everyone to be active participants in government’s road safety initiatives by using the road cautiously. The MEC also indicated that the department will continue to prioritize routes with higher traffic volumes during peak periods, saying that monitoring will be strengthened in such routes. Shongwe committed to mobilise for increase in budget for traffic law enforcement in order to acquire tools of the trade such as vehicles and payments for overtime, particularly during peak holidays seasons. He has also sent his condolences to the 18 families who have lost their loved ones during the long weekend. “I wishes those who may still be in various hospitals across the province a speedy recovery,” he said.
