LIMPOPO – MEC for Transport & Community Safety Makoma Makhurupetje has condemned the acts of criminality on the N1 and further extended condolences to the families of the five people who were killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Saturday morning.
The multi-vehicle accident involving a truck, a sedan and two other vehicles occurred along the N1 between the Modimolle mountain and the Kranskop Tollgate at around 02:30 this morning.
She has also wished those injured in the same accident a speedy recovery, said Matome Moremi-Taueatsoala, Spokesperson for the Department of Transport.
Read more: Attempted robbery leads to multi-vehicle accident on N1 which claimed five lives
According to police sources, the truck involved experienced mechanical problems and had stopped next to the road when two men, one armed with a firearm emerged from nowhere and tried to rob the truck driver.
The driver immediately pulled back onto the road in front of traffic an a Toyota Tazz drove into the back of the truck. The robbers fired about three shots in the direction of the truck therefore the truck driver did not stop, but drove straight to Mookgopong Police station. The passengers in the Toyota sedan were in the process of getting out of their vehicle when two other vehicles hit them. Five people from the sedan were confirmed dead on the spot.
The deceased were from Soweto travelling to Polokwane to attend a funeral, he confirmed.
“It is quite clear that this accident was triggered by criminal elements that are hell-bent on robbing motorists along the N1. We are inundated with reports of people who throw dangerous objects on that stretch of the road with an intention of causing deliberate accidents that will create an opportunity for passengers and motorists to be robbed. The SAPS Provincial Commissioner has been alerted of this, and a police task team has been established to investigate the criminal syndicate. So far the police have opened cased of attempted murder, attempted armed robbery and culpable homicide,” said MEC Makhurupetje.
“As a department, we wish to remind motorists to be watchful at all times and to keep safe following distances. Motorists are also advised to drive within the speed limit and to rest in between trips as fatigue can be the biggest killer. Chances of one losing control of a vehicle are higher when one is speeding or fatigued.” she concluded.
