UPDATE: KZN Premier visits families of blue-light crash victims
KZN Premier 'safe at home' at time of fatal blue-light crash, visits victims' families
KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu on Sunday visited the families of the two women who died in a crash involving one of his blue-light escort vehicles on the N2 on Friday night.
Buyi Hadebe and Nonto Ximba sustained fatal injuries when the silver Toyota Yaris they were travelling in collided head-on with a double-cab vehicle on the N2 between Zinkwazi and Stanger.
Three other passengers were seriously injured, one of them critically, and taken to Stanger hospital for further treatment.
A statement issued by the Office of the Premier later on Friday night confirmed the vehicle was one of his back-up vehicles.
On Sunday, Mchunu and other high ranking officials visited with the Hadebe and Ximba families to offer their condolences.
‘The families of the victims of the road accident that took place along the N2 will be assisted by the provincial government to ensure that their loved ones get a decent burial,’ read another statement issued on Sunday afternoon.
‘A team of officials…in the Office of the Premier will assist in the coordination of government’s interventions. Our priority is to provide counselling to the families especially children that have been traumatised after losing their mothers.’
‘The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has been brought on board to assist families and including those who were injured with regards to lodging their claims as prescribed by the law.
‘Importantly, our main focus is to ensure that the children of the victims are not left destitute and that they have a brighter future.
‘RAF has undertaken to process the loss of income claim for the children as they depended on their mothers for financial support.’
Premier Mchunu reiterated that this latest road accident calls for ‘government to intensify road safety campaigns as we approach the Easter weekend.
‘We cannot afford the loss of innocent lives on our roads,’ he said.
A case of culpable homicide is being investigated by KwaDukuza SAPS.
[Media Statement] @KZNPremier Senzo Mchunu safe at home & NOT involved in an accident. https://t.co/wHtekCSY9j pic.twitter.com/JDOoZX58Zn
— KZN Provincial Gov (@kzngov) March 18, 2016
