Heritage weekend: 25 people killed on provincial roads
The fatality rate rose to 25 from the 11 that was initially reported, leaving the province at one fatality higher than last year for the same period.
POLOKWANE – Five collisions were reported in Polokwane on Monday alone, which brought the total number of road traffic incidents in the province on the long weekend to 47.
Of those, 15 incidents were reported in the Capricorn district with 10 fatalities while 25 people were killed across the province.
Read more: Two dead after minibus catches fire outside Polokwane
Initially, Transport MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya had applauded motorists saying that this past weekend had the lowest recorded accident rate in Limpopo over a long weekend. She appreciated that thousands of motorists who descended on the province for the long weekend heeded the call to observe and follow traffic rules.
These sentiments by the MEC have however, since changed after the department consolidated the weekend statistics and the fatality rate rose to 25 from the 11 that was initially reported, leaving the province at one fatality higher than last year for the same period.
Lerule-Ramakhanya is concerned that some motorists continue to disregard the plea to reduce speed and to exercise patience.
Departmental spokesperson Matome Moremi-Taueatsoala says Limpopo roads experienced high traffic volume between Thursday and Sunday due to the influx of migrant workers who took advantage of the long weekend to visit the province to be with their families while others came for leisure.
“The province recorded a few fatal accidents between Friday and Sunday where 11 people died and others escaped with serious injuries.”
On Sunday evening a fatal accident was reported on Polokwane Drive between Emdo Park and Luthuli Park where the driver of a minibus lost control of the vehicle, it overturned and caught fire. Two people are reported to have been killed.
Media liaison officer Mike Maringa says speeding and reckless driving were cited as the most plausible causes of all the accidents reported.
Of the incidents reported:
• 19 were caused by speed.
• Seven were caused by reckless and negligent driving.
• Six were caused by unsafe overtaking.
• Five were caused by burst tyres.
• Three were caused by unsafe following distance.
• Three were caused by pedestrians in the roadway.
• One was caused by overloading and losing control.
• One was caused by fatigue.
• One was caused by a driver ignoring a traffic sign.
• One was caused by entering the road when it was unsafe to do so.
