Transport Minister, Honourable Dikobe Ben Martins has conveyed his condolences to the family of South Africa’s national soccer team Assistant coach Thomas Madigage who was killed in a car crash yesterday near Burgersfort in Limpopo.

Preliminary reports indicate that Mr Madigage was killed last night between 22h00 and midnight on the R37 between Polokwane and Bufgersfort when his car reportedly collided with a stray donkey. Reports indicate that he was driving alone when the collision happened.

“On behalf of the transport family, we wish to convey our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Madigage who passed away yesterday, 18 October. Our condolences also go to the entire soccer fraternity in the country and internationally. South Africa has lost a soccer legend in Thomas Madigage.  May his soul rest in peace”, said Minister Martins.

Mr Madigage’s untimely passing occurs at a time when the Department of Transport is intensifying its road safety campaign ahead of the festive season.

In the continued effort to spread and encourage the message of road safety across South Africa, Minister Martins will today, 19 October engage with motorists, passengers and road users in the Mpumalanga province during a multi-disciplinary road safety and law enforcement campaign.

This initiative forms part of the department’s October Transport Month 2012 campaign, under the theme “Working together to provide a safe and reliable transport system”.

The department has called on all South Africans to support and become part of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 as declared by the United Nations.

We urge motorists to exercise great caution on the roads at all times. Everyone of us has an opportunity to reverse the carnage on our roads. Only a partnership between all spheres of government, the private sector and civil society will see us making progress in reducing the current road fatality rate.

We must all support and participate in the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Working together we believe we can save millions of lives on our roads.