Ndlambe’s high-risk roads cause for concern
Eight major crashes in 10 months
In less than 10 months, Talk of the Town has reported on more than eight car accidents in and around Port Alfred. Some have resulted in costly damage to vehicles; in others, people have lost their lives.
At least two fatal accidents on the R67 were associated with stray animals on the road.
A young woman lost her life last year in an accident on the R67 between Bathurst and Port Alfred. Emergency services personnel called to the scene surmised that her car had rolled after she swerved to avoid cattle on the road.
Port Alfred South African Police Service member Sergeant Khayalethu Hambaze’s life was cut short on March 16 in a car accident on the same road, the R67. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found a dead cow lying in the road.
Another place which can be regarded as a high accident zone is the hill between R72 Motors and the traffic lights at Nico Malan Bridge in Port Alfred. TotT has on numerous occasions reported on serious car accidents taking place opposite Port Alfred High School.
On May 26 TotT, reported on three vehicles which collided on the R72 opposite the school at about 3pm. Two drivers and two children were rushed to hospital. The two vehicles were severely damaged.
Local motorists say the section between Bathurst Street and Park Avenue has become an accident hotspot.
In the same spot last year in November TotT reported on a truck driver who survived a bad accident on the Albany Road portion of the R72 adjacent to the school after losing control of his vehicle.
The driver made a harrowing escape, missing the house and veranda on the corner, opposite The Lodge.
The horse and trailer jackknifed, and the front of the truck was severely damaged on the passenger’s side when it hit some trees on the side of the road.
Another area that has become a hotspot accident is the hill of Southwell Road on the R72.
On June 18 there were chaotic scenes at the intersection of Main Street CBD and Southwell Road as passers by rushed to gather thousands of naartjies after a truck stacked with fruit lost its load.
Two months earlier, in March, on the same hill a truck rolled, damaging an electrical junction box. Metal road safety barriers are still in their damaged state to date.
Monday’s horror crash on the R72, 5km from Alexandria towards Gqeberha, saw five people die when the sedan they were travelling in ignited on impact in a head-on collision with a truck and trailer.
Ndlambe spokesperson Cecil Mbolekwa said they were very concerned about the frequency with which accidents
— some serious — occur within the municipality’s boundaries. He said all relevant stakeholders needed to come on board to prevent these incidents.
“As the municipality we are very concerned about the high level of accidents that persist in our area,” Mbolekwa said.
“The R72 is a provincial road which requires collaboration between the police, the provincial traffic department and Ndlambe traffic officers,” Mbolekwa said.
He said the accidents could be attributed to several factors, such as reckless driving, speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.
“As Ndlambe Municipality, we are operating on a shift system that makes traffic officers visible and available until 8pm every day,” Mbolekwa said.
“Also consider the fact that we don’t have the luxury of having many traffic officers.
“[The South African Roads Agency Limited] is busy with continuous maintenance on our main roads,” Mbolekwa said.
“This has a huge impact on our existing infrastructure. The roadside barriers and road surfaces are all affected.
“As the municipality, we wish to caution road users to drive safely at all times on our roads.”
Uncedo Taxi Association member Mandla Zondani echoed the issue of stray animals on the R67 and the poor state of the road.
“We have a problem of potholes in roads. Even this road maintenance that is taking place on the R67 to Bathurst is making things worse. These people leave the work half done and they go to do something else somewhere else, leaving behind these cone zones. This makes the road smaller.
“Look at them when you drive to Bathurst: they make it difficult for drivers. Remember, some of the people on weekends drive under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
According to AA’s survey for Safer Cars for Africa conducted from 2017 to 2021, Mahindra XUV300, Toyota Etios, Toyota Avanza, Honda Amaze, Renault Sandero, Volkswagen Polo Vivo, Toyota Yaris, Kia Picanto, Hyundai i20 and Suzuki Ignis are the top ten safest for crash protection.