UPDATE: Roadworks raises safety concerns after family vacation ends in tragedy

Regular users of the N4 between Komatipoort and Hectorspruit have expressed grave concern over safety on the section under construction, particularly after a family vacation ended in tragedy on Tuesday in Mpumalanga, Lowvelder reports.

Heinrich Kieser (48) and his sons, Aldin (13) and Christiaan (15), were killed in an accident on the section while returning home to Pretoria from a trip to Mozambique. Their car collided with a truck.

Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL) spokesman Joseph Mabuza said the truck driver was travelling in the direction of Mozambique. The driver of a vehicle in front of it braked to turn left onto the Tenbosch Road and the truck swerved to avoid it unfortunately it collided with the Kierer’s oncoming SUV.

“Heinrich is survived by his mother, Meinsje (75), and two sisters,” said Christel Kieser-Muller (42) a family member.

“It is traumatic to lose a whole family like this. We are still holding on for Gill and her son Jordan and hoping that they pull through. Heinrich totally lived for his family and kids. They were coming back from holiday. He enjoyed that, he was an actively involved father. It is a big loss for my sister Meninda Esterhuizen (47) and I. She arrived this morning from Australia. He was the oldest and I am the baby of the three. We were a very close-knit family.”

“Gill and Jordan were our new family. Heinrich and Gill had been together for eight years. They moved in and lived together as a family for the past six months. He loved that everyone be a big family with Itha (his ex wife) as well. Itha is holding on. You simply take it breath by breath. Olivia (Gill’s daughter), matriculated last year and is now working in Europe.”

“Christiaan and Aldin loved sport. They were jovial boys. They enjoyed life and they excelled in all the things that they did. Their absence has left a big hole. Our mother is finding it difficult. It feels like she lost three children. He was her “steunpilaar” (pillar of strength) after our father died,” said Christel.

Gill and Jordan are still in ICU.

READ MORE:Father and his two sons killed in accident

The incident has placed the safety of the road under the spotlight.

At this particular turn-off, the only sign indicating so is located almost on the turn. The allowed lane widths have been affected by the construction. There are no turning lanes at either of the bends on the section under construction.

Solange Soares-Nicholson, TRAC communications manager, said it had installed speed humps and contraflow lanes, which were narrower than normal but within legal requirements. TRAC also reduced the maximum speed limit to 60 kilometres per hour.

“It is a constant issue that people don’t keep to the speed limit. We have done all we could to make it as safe as possible, but 90 per cent of drivers don’t treat it as a construction site,” she said.

Provincial and local traffic authorities are responsible for policing this. She added that there were no turning lanes at present. “That is exactly why the road is under construction, to widen it to include turning lanes to make it safer.”

She concluded that she would look into the signage. The truck driver and his co-driver were not injured. DCSSL said it was investigating a case of culpable homicide.

Mabuza added that the department would meet with the safety officer in charge of construction.

The funeral will be held at Pretoria East Cemetery at 12:00 and a memorial service at Pretoria Boys’ High School at 14:00, next Thursday.

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Father and his two sons killed in accident

– Caxton News Service

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