The Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, has expressed disappointment at the growing rate of road fatalities in Gauteng. Gauteng experienced major fatal crashes during the long weekend while South Africans observed Freedom day to mark 24 years of breaking the chains and realising a democratic dispensation.
Our law enforcement agencies were hard at work during the busy long weekend ensuring that drivers constantly adhere to the rules of the road and arrested 252 drunk drivers across the City of Johannesburg, with Soweto topping the list with a recorded 53 arrests.
Preliminary statistics from Gauteng Province from Thursday the 26th of April until the 30th of April 2018 paints a very worrying picture. Gauteng recorded 41 fatal crashes as well as 51 fatalities broken down into 22 pedestrians, 11 drivers, 15 passengers, 2 motorcyclists as well as 1 cyclist.
“It is of great concern that some unwarranted behaviours continued unabated and this has been widely demonstrated by the rate of fatalities during this long weekend. We have noticed that many accidents were caused by over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving unroadworthy vehicle amongst others.
As Gauteng government, we will continue to implement programmes and initiatives that are aimed at reducing road crashes as these rob the country of the skills and talent essential in building a flourishing nation.
Amongst some of the programmes include Road Safety Education focusing on pedestrian awareness, driver’s safety, safer vehicles and alcohol awareness. I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wish those who are injured a speedy recovery.
We wish to further caution those who are driving to various destinations in the province to continue to observe the rules of the road to avoid further unnecessary fatalities,” said MEC Nkosi-Malobane.