47 Die on KZN Roads During Easter Weekend

By: Sthilile Mdletshe

KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni says reckless driving is one of the major causes of road accident in this province.

This as preliminary road accidents reports reveal that 37 crashes resulting in 47 fatalities have been recorded in various parts of the province from 01-04 April 2021.

Compared to 2020, 5 crashes resulted in 6 fatalities recorded in the same period, Easter weekend, when the country was under Level 5 COVID-19 nation-wide lockdown. During the same period in 2019, a total of 31 crashes resulting in 40 fatalities were recorded in KZN.

Nkonyeni says law enforcement will be in full force as integrated roadblocks continue throughout the province.

These will be targeting all degrees of crime including unroadworthy vehicles, overloading, reckless driving, drinking and driving and illegal drugs among other violations..

“This resulted in 1345 written charges being issued, a total of 111 motorists were arrested for drunken driving, 324 motorists were charged for speeding, while 111 vehicles were suspended, and 48 vehicles impounded,” states Nkonyeni.

Meanwhile, South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO)  KZN  has hailed operation Hlokomela for prioritising the safety of public transport commuters

High traffic volumes have been reported as holiday makers leave after the Easter weekend.

Provincial SANTACO Office Manager, Sifiso Shangase, says throughout the long weekend taxi operators as well as Operation Hlokomela ambassadors worked with law enforcement to ensure that minibus taxis are roadworthy.

Shangase says they are pleased that taxi owners and drivers adhered to all the regulations that call for safety on the roads and the lives of the people.