If the Department of Transport was serious about reducing road accidents, it should enforce existing laws and ban the transportation of people on bakkies entirely. -- IFP KZN spokesperson for transport: Steven Moodley
Durban — The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature has demanded answers from the MECs of Education and Transport after 19 schoolchildren died in a crash recently.
This follows the death of 21 people, 19 children and two adults, in a horror crash on the N2 between Pongola and Itshelejuba on Friday.
In video footage, a bakkie which was transporting primary school children is seen being hit head-on by the truck which was overtaking on a solid line.
The IFP says both the MEC of Education Mbali Frazer and MEC of Transport Sipho Hlomuka must be held accountable.
It further states that Frazer must report on the availability of scholar transport in uPhongolo, while Hlomuka accounts for the lack of visibility of traffic police on the roads.
IFP KZN spokesperson for transport, Steven Moodley, said the IFP believes these deaths could have been avoided.
Moodley said it was illegal to transport people on the back of a bakkie.
“Why were these learners not provided with safe scholar transport as has been raised by the IFP numerous times?” asked Moodley.
He said that the National Road Traffic Regulation 250, which came into effect in May 2017, states: “No person shall on a public road carry any person for reward in the goods compartment of a motor vehicle.”
Moodley said that Regulation 247 contemplates the circumstances under which persons may be transported in the goods compartment of a vehicle: “No person shall operate on a public road a goods vehicle conveying persons unless that portion of the vehicle in which such persons are being conveyed is enclosed to a height of (a) at least 350mm above the surface upon which such person is seated; or (b) at least 900mm above the surface on which such person is standing, in a manner and with a material of sufficient strength to prevent such person from falling from such vehicle when it is in motion.”
He said if the Department of Transport was serious about reducing road accidents, it should enforce existing laws and ban the transportation of people on bakkies entirely.
Moodley said that the time for complacency and inaction was over.
He added that the IFP has long been calling for traffic police to be deployed 24/7 on the roads. However, their calls fell on deaf ears.
“We have called for drastic action against reckless driving and unroadworthy vehicles. Sadly, this too has received no tangible response.
“How many people must die before the authorities wake up from their slumber and stop the carnage on our roads? Enough is enough. We do not want condolences. We demand action to reduce road accidents and restore sanity on our roads,” said Moodley.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in the KZN legislature Francois Rodgers said it was clear that the African National Congress (ANC) government was failing KZN’s road users.
Rodgers said there was another incident on Friday involving pupils however there were no deaths.
He further stated that given the growing crisis in the province, the party was expecting the National Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, to intervene and ensure that the roads were safe and properly maintained and that there is increased visible policing.
“We also expect him to address the fact that there are far too many heavy vehicles on KZN’s roads. Not only are they a law unto themselves, they are also causing the deterioration of our roads. In this regard, the Minister needs to present a plan on how the rail freight service will be revived. It is the only way to solve the problem.
“This type of carnage, at the cost of failed ANC government departments, in this case Transport, cannot be allowed to continue. Nor can the ongoing leadership vacuum, as seen with former Transport MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni. Sadly, the DA does not have much hope that things will improve under the new MEC Sipho Hlomuka,” Rodgers said.
He added that the DA will be closely monitoring the outcome of the Pongola crash investigation.
Daily News