Ladysmith is still reeling in shock after the horrific crash on the N11 just past Modelkloof on Saturday night (October 12). The accident claimed the lives of eight people, including two children.
A Toyota Fortuner and a Porsche SUV collided head-on shortly after 10pm, with the Porsche bursting into flames. The occupants of the Porsche were burnt beyond recognition and DNA tests are currently being done. They have been named as prominent Newcastle businessman 41-year-old Dheeraj (Deez) Sureshchand Singh (who was driving the car), his 40-year-old wife Ronithah Singh, his son Suman Singh (21) and daughter Sanjana Singh (16).
The Fortuner had crumpled and was reduced to less than half its size, with its front wheels almost touching the back wheels. The occupants of the Toyota Fortuner were driver Tonderai Godfrey Sithole (38), his wife Faith Sithole (36), daughter Shalom Sithole (10) and daughter Shekinah Sithole (5).
The Singhs, who had been in Ladysmith for a family celebration, were heading back to Newcastle when the accident happened. They will now all have funerals in Ladysmith.
In a statement, MEC for Transport, Community Safety & Liaison Bheki Ntuli urged police to speed up the investigation into the cause of the accident. “Losing an entire family in just one accident is such a great tragedy,” he said. “In this particular accident, we have lost two families. We once again extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and our officials will continue supporting the families as they make arrangements to bury their loved ones.”
Following the incident, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) released the following statement on the crash and other road safety issues in the country.
The IFP calls for a Commission of Inquiry to scrutinise the government’s approach to road safety following the horror accident that resulted in eight fatalities in Ladysmith on Saturday night on the N11. The blatant disregard of traffic rules among many drivers is a grave cause of concern. It is distressing that road fatalities are continuing unabated yet we are two months away from the festive season.
The IFP is therefore of the opinion that an urgent Commission of Inquiry should be established to investigate what steps should be taken and what measures would be most effective in curbing road accidents and reducing the severity of road carnage. This inquiry must investigate how effective government’s current approach to road safety is. It should also look at how the approach could be improved upon and what further action could be taken to minimise the severity and high rate of accidents.
Read initial story: Head-on collision outside Ladysmith KZN leaves 8 dead, including 2 children
Also read: 4 injured after 3 vehicles collide on N11
The IFP believes that enhancing post-crash response and enforcing speed limits should be accompanied by sustained and visible enforcement. Road safety should be a 365-day project and not only enforced and promoted during October, which is Transport Month. More decisive action is required if we are to win the battle against road carnage. All stakeholders should join hands in ensuring that our roads do not continue to be killing fields and work towards achieving the desired goal of minimising road carnage. Too many lives have been lost and in the recent accident on the N11, two families were wiped out.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal also released the following statement after the crash and extends its deepest condolences to the families of those involved in Saturday night’s head-on collision.
Tragically, it is incidents such as this – where young people bear the brunt of the negligence of road users – that remind us how critical it is to follow the rules of the road. Campaign after campaign reminds us that speed kills, that we should not text while driving, that people should not drink and drive – yet there are still drivers who disregard these messages. With October being Transport Month in South Africa and with the festive season and its escalation in traffic looming, the DA urges road users to exercise caution by slowing down, obeying the rules of the road and staying safe.
Every one of us has a role to play in stopping the carnage that currently exists on our roads.
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