Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane has called on every person using the road, to do so with great care in order to avoid crashes that often take lives during the Festive Season. The MEC was speaking during a Pedestrian Safety Campaign that was conducted on the R23 Road outside Standerton in Lekwa Local Municipality on Thursday, 15 December 2016.
MEC Ngomane says that all road users such as drivers, passengers and even public transport operators should ensure that their vehicles are without defects that may not only bring them into trouble with law enforcers but could also lead to fatal crashes, which could have been avoided.
The MEC lambasted pedestrians who go to taverns at night and after drinking jaywalk on highways, which leads to unnecessary loss of lives. “While we encourage motorist to always be on the lookout for pedestrians, they (pedestrians) should do their part by being visible on the road at night and avoid walking while they are drunk,” he said.
Ngomane also called on novice drivers to refrain from consuming alcohol and then take to the road while intoxicated. According to the MEC, most of the novice drivers are graduates who have recently completed their studies at institutions of higher learning and have just started working.
Ngomane added: “Most of these young people end up dying on the road and even killing other people and this robs the country of future leaders. Young people should stay away from alcohol and drugs in order to avoid becoming involved in deadly crashes on the road.”
As much as he encourages road safety education, Ngomane has also called on law enforcers not to have mercy on any person who is found wanting. He has further ordered law enforcers to arrest all those who will try to bribe them.
Speaking at the same event was State Security Minister David Mahlobo who has said that road safety is not only the responsibility of government but the whole society should play their part. Minister Mahlobo indicated that many people do not reach their destinations when travelling due to people who disregard the rules of the road.
He urged motorists to obey the rules of the road by driving in a manner that prioritizes safety in order to spare the lives of the people they are transporting.
The minister also appealed to passengers not to agree to be transported by drivers who are drunk or in vehicles that are not in good condition regardless of how quick they wish to reach their destinations.
Minister Mahlobo’s participation in today’s programme was informed by Cabinet’s decision that encourages members of the Executive to support all road safety initiatives in various provinces and municipalities.
Yesterday’s programme was part of the Mpumalanga’s Festive Season Road Safety Campaign and it is informed by the previous festive holidays’ accidents statistics that indicated that over 40% of road crashes’ casualties were pedestrians. They were involved in accidents mainly due to jaywalking on the road while intoxicated, failure to wear brighter clothes while walking at night and also over speeding motorists who do not look out for pedestrians.
The campaign was supported by SAPS, Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Road Accident Fund (RAF) and other government departments as well as the local municipality.
Issued by Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison department
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza Contacts:
Tel: 013 756 6371 Cell: 082 678 1450
Email: emabuza@mpg.gov.za