The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, has expressed concern on the increase of road accidents and the rate of fatalities.
A number of fatal accidents were reported over the past couple of weeks. During the weekend eight students from Wits University travelling from Polokwane died on their way back from a church pilgrimage. A week before that a bus accident claimed 11 lives when it overturned in the Free State. The people were travelling back after attending a political party manifesto launch in Port Elizabeth.

“These accidents are becoming frequent, fatal and often involve minibus taxis. This is concerning to the Committee as any situation resulting in unnecessary death on the roads is intolerable,” Ms Magadzi said. “This is particularly shocking because we had a significant reduction of road fatalities during the Easter weekend. What has changed for the country to be losing people at this rate in such a short space of time?” she asked. Ms Magadzi said she supported the utterances by the Road Traffic Management Council (RTMC) that it will investigate this recent spike. “The Committee welcomes this initiative by the RTMC and would want it expedited so that whatever is necessary to curb road deaths is implemented speedily,” she said.

“Behaviour on the roads, especially by young people, should change and the Committee is satisfied that traffic laws are oriented in such a way that the country is safe. We need to instill a culture where road safety becomes a personal responsibility and negligent behaviour is eradicated,” she said.

 

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi