Road Safety Highlights News Section

Two men held after truck crash

2010-03-13

13 March 2010

Two Malawian nationals were arrested on suspicion of stealing goods worth R65 000 after the truck they had been driving crashed on Saturday.

Western Cape police spokesman Inspector Lindikhaya Mkhontwana said the two men were transporting computers, motor boat engines, television sets, electronic appliances, bicycles, music systems and bank notes when the incident happened.

andquot;The pair could not provide police with proof of purchase and transportation documents.andquot;

They told police the items were being taken to a Johannesburg terminal to be transported to Malawi.

Mkhontwana did not provide details on how the accident occurred.

Both men are expected to appear in the Laingsburg Magistrate's Court on charges of being in possession of suspected stolen goods on Monday. - Sapa

North West Speedster arrested

2010-03-11

A 27-year-old driver has been arrested after being caught driving at 172km/h in an 80km/h zone in Groot-Marico on Thursday afternoon, North West public safety department said.

Spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said the driver, who works for a security company, was driving an Opel Corsa when he was caught.

He is expected to appear in the Groot-Marico Magistrate's Court on Friday to face a charge of reckless and negligent driving.

- SAPA

Two men in court after deadly Soweto car crash

2010-03-10

10 March 2010

The two men accused of killing four teenage boys in Soweto on Monday are due to appear in the Protea Magistrate's Court today. They face charges of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving. The two were allegedly racing their cars when they collided and hit a group of boys on their way home from school.

Four of the boys were killed instantly. They were grade 12 pupils aged between 17 and 19. Two other boys were critically injured. The two accused were supposed to appear yesterday however the hearing was moved to today as police wanted to finalise their evidence.

Meanwhile, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has warned that those involved in illegal drag-racing in townships will face the full might of the law. She was speaking during her visit to the victims families in Protea North.

The Premier's spokesperson, Dumisani Zulu says, andquot;Those involved in this situation are going to face the wrath of the law. The government of Gauteng is not going to tolerate a situation where our streets that are supposed to be used with respect by our own community members are turned into race courses.andquot; He added that people who want to race must go to designated areas where racing is allowed.

'Green' taxis launched in CT

2010-03-09

9 March 2010

The Western Cape Provincial government and City of Cape Town have launched a programme to encourage taxi drivers to help andquot;greenandquot; the city by changing their driving habits.

As part of the city's Green Goal programme, the Eco-driver Training programme was launched with the Metered Taxi Association in Cape Town on Tuesday.

andquot;This is our long term legacy approach and we hope it will be rolled out nationally,andquot; said Anton Molden of the South African Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) which is one of the programme's sponsors.

He explained why Sapia was involved in the programme.

andquot;We have six refineries, but we are pushed for fuel supply. If we push our refineries, we push out more carbon, which is bad for the environment. Currently only 11% of cars on the road require newer, cleaner fuels, and will cost us in the order of R40bn to fully develop clean fuels,andquot; he said.

Flexibility

The training programme is designed to change driving habits such as getting taxi drivers to andquot;anticipate traffic flowandquot; and andquot;avoiding stop and startandquot; driving in order to reduce fuel consumption.

Some drivers however, felt that more should be done for them to earn money.

andquot;I'm already doing this, but we need to get more work,andquot; Nigel Burricks, a taxi driver of five years, told News24.

andquot;Some of us sit and wait for work up to four hours every day and they need to help us get work on a regular basis,andquot; he added.

andquot;Sometimes there's not even one call to the Metered Taxi Association to say 'We need a cab'. They need to do better marketing so we can work,andquot; another driver added.

MEC for transport and public works, Robin Carlisle, said that he was focussed on metered taxis.

andquot;My job is to get public transport off the ground and metered taxis provide the flexibility. In European cities, taxis are better if you can afford it,andquot; he said.

Gottlieb Arendse, a director in the provincial department of environmental affairs, said that this pilot scheme had some challenges.

andquot;There are issues that were dealt with and the Green Goal programme has challenges with the mini-bus taxi associations. It was easier to implement within the organisation of the metered taxis,andquot; he told News24.

andquot;Hopefully this pilot scheme will go wider,andquot; said Molden. andquot;Perhaps we could issue a decor on a taxi that says 'eco taxi' and that might appeal to the public. They also need to promote themselves,andquot; he added.

Arendse added that taxi drivers could save money by doing andquot;eco-drivingandquot; but could not quantify exactly how much savings because drivers were encouraged, not obliged to keep logbooks of their consumption.

[Story by Duncan Alfreds, News24]

A miracle no one killed as bus rolls

2010-03-04

4 March 2010

More than 30 passengers miraculously survived a bus accident on the R61 near Mthatha yesterday. The Vaal Maseru line bus transporting them rolled down an embankment in the Gxulu locality.

At least four critically injured people were rushed to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. More than 15 others, including children, were also treated at the hospital for minor injuries.

One of the survivors, Myekeni Zintonga, 52, said he could not believe he was still alive.

He and his wife, Ncediwe had been travelling to Port St Johns.

andldquo;I thought I was going to die. I think most of us in there had a similar feeling; it was terrible. People were screaming all over the place,andrdquo; Zintonga said.

Zintonga, who sustained injuries to his head and left leg, recalled how the bus went off the road and started rolling over.

andldquo;I saw it all, I was conscious; people were crying uncontrollably,andrdquo; he said.

He said after the bus stopped rolling, he realised his wife was trapped under a seat and could not move.

andldquo;Though I was also hurt I realised my wife, who was sitting next to me, was in great pain. She had a big swelling on her head and was crying. She is one of the people who were taken to hospital in a critical state,andrdquo; said Zintonga, who still had a bandage on his head and blood stains on his face.

Provincial Arrive Alive spokesperson Tshepo Machaea said the accident was caused by a mechanical problem.

andldquo;The stabiliser failed and resulted in the bus losing control,andrdquo; Machaea said.

He said it was a miracle there were no fatalities.

andldquo;According to the driver the bus rolled down this embankment four times; it is truly by Godandrsquo;s miracle that no one died.andrdquo;

The accident happened just after 8am, when the bus was travelling from Carltonville to Port St Johns.

Machaea said about 35 people were on board when the accident happened.

Nikiwe Nonkobongo, 55, from Gxulu, was busy washing dishes when she saw the bus going off the road. andldquo;I immediately called Machaea and rushed to the scene. People were still trying to get out of the bus. They were crying and some asked me when help would arrive,andrdquo; she said.

She said peopleandrsquo;s faces were covered in blood and that others were very confused, and she had to reassure them that help was coming.

Bus driver Motsoahae Motsoahae, 35, said he lost control when he could not turn the steering wheel andldquo;as it was fixed in one directionandrdquo;.
andldquo; I saw it going down the embankment and there was nothing I could do,andrdquo; Motsoahae said.

Another survivor, Zolile Zozi, 28, who was travelling to Libode, said all he knew was that he was busy talking on his phone when he felt the bus going off the road.
andldquo;It was very scary; itandrsquo;s a miracle that we survived andndash; I lost my phone in the process,andrdquo; Zozi said.

In December last year at least 10 people including children were killed when the breaks of a Vaal Maseru bus failed, resulting in a horrible accident. The bus crashed near a tavern and killed a bystander. andmdash; By LUBABALO NGCUKANA, Mthatha Bureau. lubabalon@dispatch.co.za