Gratitude filled the Bergville Sports Complex as the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Bheki Ntuli, expressed words of encouragement to members of the law enforcement agencies and emergency services who are often the first responders at accident scenes during the World Remembrance Day for Road Accident Victims which was held today.
The theme for World Remembrance Day 2020 is: “First Responders”, recognizing the selfless men and women who rescue, care for, and support victims of road trauma. Such exposure daily takes an inevitable toll on these brave heroes, who need but do not often get, the full support of society.
The objectives of World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims are, amongst others to remember all people killed and seriously injured on the road; acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services; advocate for better support for road traffic victims and victims’ families and promote evidence-based actions to prevent and halt further road crash fatalities and injuries.
Addressing community members and multi-denomination religious leaders who had gathered at the Bergville Sports Complex, MEC Ntuli said: “We recognise the selfless men and women who rescue, care for and support victims of road trauma. To those who are present here, we say that indeed, it takes a brave human being to bear what the emergency personnel witness in the course of their duties. The nature of your work is not easy, yet you still persevere and make sacrifices to ensure safety on our roads but importantly, to save lives. Therefore, today we wish to pay a special tribute to all law enforcement officers, emergency services, and health personnel”, said MEC Ntuli.
A prayer was held at the accident scene on R74 in Bergville where seven people died in remembrance of many road crash victims who lost their lives.
“Before we came here, we stopped at the accident scene on R74 to lay wreaths and pay our respects in memory of the seven people who recently died during an accident in Bergville last year but also in memory of all other road crash victims. In 2005 the United Nations declared that by 2020 there should be a decline in road fatalities, we have noted a slight decrease in road fatalities although this year alone we have lost 1 492 people due to road accidents compared to 2032 people who die on our roads during the same period last year. We are faced with a huge challenge of changing people’s mindset through road safety awareness education, but the responsibility lies with each motorist to ensure that they adhere to the rules of the road and drive safely to reduce road carnages as we are approaching the festive season and beyond,” added MEC Ntuli. Speaking at the event, road accident survivor Samkelo Khumalo shared his testimony of how he escaped with minor injuries when he was involved in a car crash on 10 August 2019.
“I have no recollection of what happened when I was involved in an accident because I blacked out. But I remembered hearing someone say I should stay still and not move because I will hurt myself. I am here to say there is life after an accident but let us obey and adhere to all the rules of the road. Let us fasten our seat belts and let us refrain from drinking and driving. Let us pledge to be safe on the road because road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said Khumalo.
The province has experienced several cars crashes in recent weeks which have resulted in multiple fatalities. In late September, 13 people were killed in a horrific four-vehicle crash on the R33 near Wartburg in the KZN Midlands that involved a minibus taxi and truck. On 10 October 13 family members died in a horrific minibus taxi crash in Kilmun, near Underberg. It is alleged that the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled down an embankment. In late October, 15 people died in a horror crash between a minibus taxi and a truck on the R66 between Melmoth and Ulundi in northern KZN. On Monday, 14 people died in yet another horrific crash involving a minibus taxi and two trucks on the N3 near Estcourt.
The Department will intensify its multi-disciplinary law enforcement operations across the province and educational campaigns in the lead-up to the festive season and beyond in order to reduce road carnages.