KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Transport, Mr S'bu Ndebele has made an appeal for people to donate blood during December as the shortage of blood in the province reaches crisis levels. Blood donor clinics are being held throughout the province to replenish dwindling reserves.
Mr Ndebele said with the approach of the festive season and the inevitable influx of holiday traffic, road crashes are expected. "This season is synonymous with heavy traffic and road collisions and while we are pulling all the stops to ensure that there is a reduction in road fatalities this year, we still have to prepare in the event of a number of crashes."
"Every year, many people die in road collisions during this period and many others suffer serious injuries. Many of these injured people require blood transfusions and as part of the preparations for the holiday season, we must ensure that our blood reserves are adequate to take us through the holiday season," Mr Ndebele said.
He urged people who are blood donors or people over the age of 18 who are potential blood donors to go to the nearest blood donor clinic to donate blood. Last Friday, the Department of Transport hosted a blood donor clinic at the Pietermaritzburg head office to allow staff to donate blood.
"Our commitment to saving lives does not stop with enforcement operations and road safety education. All civic-minded people are asked to respond and actively participate is our mission to save lives in whatever way they can," he said.
"One never knows whose life one could be saving. But during this festive season, the biggest gift one could give - even to an unknown person - is the gift of life," Mr Ndebele said.
The Minister will launch the province's summer holiday traffic campaign at the Umdloti Road Traffic Inspectorate at 10am tomorrow.
Issued by: Ranjeni Munusamy
PRO - Ministry of Transport
(0331) 422626 / 082 5666 781
Pager 0800333666 - code 5553
29 December 1998