MEC prays for carnage on roads to end

Transport and Community Safety MEC Makoma Makhurupetje has promised citizens that her department will strengthen law enforcement on the main roads of the province during the Festive Season in a quest to reduce the expected road carnage that usually mars the joy of the season.
Makhurupetje addressed attendees during a prayer session for traffic officers and emergency service workers held in partnership with the Dutch Reformed Church in Polokwane at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Monday.
Makhurupetje said the number of vehicle accident related deaths in the province since October this year had saddened her. “Overall, compared to October 2016 when 231 fatalities were recorded in Limpopo, this year the number went up to 257. By any standard this number is still very high and cannot be accepted as normal. It says that something is not going well somewhere.”
“I relate all this in­formation to simply re­emphasise the point that we are in dire situation. What is more worrisome to us is that the increase in the rate of fatalities is happening so rapidly even before we can begin with our Festive Season. We need our people to change their behaviour on the roads to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads,” Makhurupetje said.
She called on South Africans of all faith denominations not to falter or tire in their prayers for the Festive Season and for peace to reign on the roads. “Let us continue to pray for the N1 and all other roads in our province. Experience has taught us that we need this kind of partnership between church and government, not only when there are challenges but also when things seem to be going well.”
“We pray that the power of the Almighty gives us strength and wash away the memory of the hurt, and the neglect that many us experience. We pray that the touch of Jesus heals us wherever we are broken. We pray that there be peace and stability in our country and also on our roads,” she concluded.
Wynand van Beek, Secretary of the Circuit for the Dutch Reformed Church Polokwane said with the prayer session they wanted to acknowledge the hard work done by the traffic officers and also give them strength ahead of the season. “These are people who work long hours on the roads while we are on holiday. They spent lot of time away from their families and as a church we see their efforts and we hope that our prayers will give them more strength during the season,” Van Beek said.

Story & photos: Herbert Rachuene
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