Plea for more patience on SA’s roads

EASTERN Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana yesterday reiterated calls for patience on the roads, saying it was unacceptable that human lives were lost through road accidents every day.

“The burden also impacts heavily on our health system and social welfare where more and more people rely on our social security net for survival.”

Tikana was addressing more than 300 people at a mass memorial service at Mangathi village in Dutywa for eight victims of a crash that took place on the notorious N2 near Dutywa last week.

Among those killed were five women, one of whom gave birth to a premature baby in May this year.

They were killed after a bakkie in which they were travelling from town to their villages in Mangathi overturned.

The eight victims have been identified as Linda Tafeni, 22, Bukelwa Loki Mbuka, 68, Sikelele Mahamba, 28, Agnes Jako, 87, Xolelwa Mbeki, 36, Bongiswa Mchithwa, 34, Kwanele Nyombo, 22, and Malibenye Yamani, 67.

Six other passengers were admitted to after sustaining injuries.

Tikana, who was joined by Mbashe municipality mayor Samkelo Janda, lamented the fact that some of those who died had left children whose wellbeing would now be in the hands of their husbands.

“Reckless driving is still one of the major contributing factors to accidents reported in South Africa,” she said.

She said the government was doing all in its power to come up with strategies to curb road deaths but warned that commuters who used public transport also had a role to play in ensuring they did not find themselves victims of road accidents.

This included being able to tell drivers down if they were driving too fast.

“We also have a right to voice our displeasure if we suspect that the car we are travelling in is not in a good condition to be on the road.

“Everyone who drives at a higher speed knows that it becomes impossible to stop the car at an instant to avoid hitting another car or a crossing pedestrian.”

She said the onus was on drivers to ensure they kept to the speed limit, avoided driving under the influence of alcohol, using cellphones while driving, that their vehicles were roadworthy and took regular breaks during long distances.

They also need to use the safety belts fitted in their vehicles. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za hospital to slow