Eleven lives lost on Limpopo roads during the long heritage day weekend

LIMPOPO

 

The Member of Executive Committee (MEC) for Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, has applauded thousands of motorists who descended to the province for the long weekend for heeding to a call to observe and follow traffic rules.

 

The spokesperson for the department, Matome Taueatsoala, said there have however recorded a few fatal accidents between Friday and Sunday where eleven (11) people have died, and others left with serious injuries.

 

Taueatsoala said 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.

 

“Amongst the fatal accidents recorded was a head-on collision that claimed two lives on the R518 road at Masodi village in Waterberg involving two loading vehicles.

 

“It is reported that one of the Vans was trying to overtake when it collided head-on with an oncoming Opel loading vehicle and killed the driver and his passenger on the spot,” said Taueatsoala.

 

MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya is concerned that some motorists continue to disregard the plea to reduce speed and to exercise patience to reduce the road carnage.

 

He said the latest accident was reported on Sunday evening in Capricorn on the old Seshego road where a driver of a Kombi lost control of the vehicle, overturned and it caught fire.

 

“Two people are reported to have burned beyond recognition,” he said

 

The MEC is however happy that the majority of the road users heed to the call, especially on the busy roads linking Limpopo to other provinces.

 

The spokesperson said the province was envisaging a zero fatal weekend, but 11 lives were unfortunately lost due to negligence and speeding.

 

Speeding and reckless driving were cited as possible causes of all the fatal accidents reported in the past 72 hours.  .