Monday, 28 June 2021

MEC NKONYENI CALLS FOR SAFE CYCLING AND RESPONSIBLE DRIVING ON PROVINCIAL ROADS

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Ms Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni, calls for significantly improved and more stringent safety measures to protect cyclists on provincial roads.

MEC Nkonyeni’s urgent call comes in the wake of the tragic accident involving a cyclist that was killed on the N2 near Ballito after he was hit by a minibus taxi this morning. The cyclist was declared dead at the scene and police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.

The safety of cyclists and pedestrians is one of the key strategic areas of focus for the Department of Transport’s provincial road safety campaign as they account for a high number of people who are dying on the road.

“The Department is intensifying its approach to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. We also appeal to other motorists to be extra vigilant and co-exist with other road users including cyclists and pedestrians. Equally, we appeal to cyclists and pedestrians them to use demarcated areas. The Department will also be engaging with cycling clubs to promote safe cycling. We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the cyclist who was killed this morning,” said MEC Nkonyeni.

The Department previously forged a partnership with the Burry Stander Foundation, promoting safe cycling in the province. Stander was a renowned cyclist who was killed after he was hit by a minibus taxi in Margate in January 2013. Njabulo Nyawose, a taxi driver was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment, with three years being suspended for five years on condition that he was not convicted of culpable homicide in the period of suspension.

In another devastating and horrific accident, this weekend, six people were killed in a head-on collision involving two vehicles in Durban. The accident occurred on Saturday evening at approximately 22h20 at the intersection of Ruth First Freeway and Sandile Thusi Road (Argyle Road). The accident involved a VW Amarok and a Kia Picanto. Six occupants, three in each vehicle died on the scene.

The driver on the VW Amarok allegedly drove through a red traffic light and was also arrested for drinking and driving. MEC Nkonyeni condemned such behavior, saying a punitive judiciary decision is needed to deal with such errant drivers to save the loss of innocent lives on the road.

“It is unacceptable that so many lives were lost just because of one individual who has no regard for the rule of law. We want to see the judiciary and criminal justice system taking more punitive measures against such reckless behavior and individuals. We wish to send our sincerest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and will we be following this case very closely,” said MEC Nkonyeni.

The Department, working with other law enforcement agencies, will be intensifying road safety operations to ensure compliance with the Covid-19 Alert Level 4 curfew announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night and other Covid-19 National Lockdown Regulations.

ENDS.