Two accidents have claimed five lives in Mpumalanga in two consecutive days. The first accident, in which two lives were claimed, occurred when a truck crashed into a Sedan on the R545 Road between Orgies and Emalahleni yesterday. The driver of the truck escaped without injuries.
The latest accident claimed three lives when a mini-bus overturned on R40 Road between Barberton and Nelspruit this morning. According to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, the mini-bus’ side shaft broke leading to the driver losing control before it overturned on a ditch along the road.
Eleven injured passengers were rushed to a Medi-Clinic and Robs Ferreira hospitals in Nelspruit. The department’s MEC, Vusi Shongwe, visited the R40 accident scene and has pinpointed road crashes as a huge concern as many families are not only robbed of their loved ones but also lose breadwinners.
“Many children lose their parents and this lead to families becoming dysfunctional and therefore communities must work together with government to bring an end to road carnage.
I call on public transport owners to always ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and that all defects are repaired as soon they have been identified,” said Shongwe.
