MEC Willies Mchunu, HOD Sbu Gumbi and other senior management at the scene of the head-on collision on Richmond Road near Pinetown.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr. Willies Mchunu, has called for the review of legislation and regulations in a bid to arrest the scourge of road accidents, which are claiming many people’s lives.
Talking in the wake of a series of accidents that killed six people on KwaZulu-Natal roads yesterday (Monday, 26/05/2014), Mchunu said in this new term the government would focus on tightening traffic regulations.
“We need to strengthen regulations to ensure that those who break them will face the full might of the law. Drivers, especially those who will be caught driving under the influence of alcohol, should know the consequences of breaking the law and what will happen to them,” said Mchunu.
He said areas that needed to be looked at and be further explored included drivers losing their licences and the imposing of tougher sentences for those to be found guilty of violating traffic regulations.
“I will continue to engage the national Minister of Transport, Ms. Dipuo Peters, with the view of having road regulations tightened and to explore other punitive measures to deal with reckless and careless drivers,” said Mchunu.
Today MEC Mchunu was briefed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) accident combat and forensic experts on the progress in the investigation of the KwaNdengezi fatal accident which claimed five lives in the early hours of yesterday morning. The SAPS explained that the victims of this accident were traveling on Richmond Road, near Pinetown to KwaNdengezi in a Toyota Corolla when the driver is believed to have lost control and crashed onto an oncoming Isuzu bakkie. The five deceased all died on the scene with two having burnt from the fire that exploded.
MEC Mchunu also met bereaved families of five victims who died as a result of this gruesome accident and offered condolences on behalf of the provincial government.
Government pledged to assist the families with burial assistance and through the Road Accident Fund.
MEC Mchunu has also used the meeting with families to call on all drivers in the province to take full responsibility for safeguarding people’s lives by strictly observing road traffic rules.
MEC Willies Mchunu giving words of comfort and support to the bereaved families of the victims of the head-on collision.