The DA is calling on KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC, Sipho Hlomuka to urgently modernise his Department’s operation systems to include ongoing communication relating to traffic conditions and early warnings to road users in the province.
The appeal came after several crashes over the Easter weekend, including a horror crash on the P200 in the Margate area where a truck and a car had been involved in a head-on collision resulting in one person losing their life.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service said after assessing the scene, it found that five patients had sustained minor injuries, however one sustained fatal injuries and succumbed to their injuries before emergency services arrived.
Also, last week emergency services also responded to an accident on the N2 near Paddock where five trucks had been involved in a collision.
On Saturday (April 8), a seriously injured patient was trapped in a vehicle after a collision between two cars on the N2, near Marburg.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service reported that six people were injured during the accident.
DA KZN Spokesperson on Transport, Sharon Hoosen, said another horrific accident over the weekend happened on the N3 near Hilton involving more than 40 vehicles. Six people were tragically killed while many were injured.
“While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, the events of the past few days have clearly shown that MEC Hlomuka and his Department of Transport cannot continue doing the same thing and expect a different result. Of particular concern is the lack of proactive communication from the Department of Transport with road users. This must be dealt with and the Department needs to modernise their operations methods to communicate with road users. This must include the utilisation of social media to provide ongoing updates around weather and driving conditions along with any other factors that may be hazardous to drivers,” said Hoosen, adding that proactive communication is not only critical, it is possible.
She added that the DA extends its deepest condolences to those who lost family and friends in such a traumatic manner, saying that they send their best wishes for a speedy recovery to the scores of people injured.
Meanwhile, MEC Hlomuka said as provincial authorities, they are hugely disappointed with the fatal crashes recorded during the Easter weekend.
“We acknowledge the magnitude of this horrific accidents and the trauma felt by all those involved is unbearable. We once again wish to send our deepest condolences to all the affected families and wish a speedy recovery to all those who sustained injuries,” said Hlomuka.
