Durban — Six people died following a head-on collision on the R102 near Darnall, north of Durban, on Saturday.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said six people were declared dead at the scene. KwaDukuza SAPS have opened a docket for six counts of culpable homicide.
IPSS Medical Rescue’s Kelsey-Jae Meyrick said there were also multiple injuries at the scene.
She said when paramedics arrived on the scene, it was established that two vehicles had collided head-on at high speed. Reports from the scene indicate that one person sustained critical injuries and five others sustained injuries ranging from serious to moderate. The patients were stabilised on the scene by EMRS and IPSS Medical Rescue before being transported to hospital.
“Our condolences to the friends and family of the deceased,” Meyrick added.
KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the Road Traffic Inspectorate is working with police to find the cause of the crash.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that two vehicles collided head-on at high speed,” Duma said.
Road Safety Initiatives
Duma said the crash happened after the Inter-Faith Road Safety Prayer involving religious leaders and communities on Saturday. Duma said that road safety campaigns involving a multi disciplinary team of law enforcement officers will be intensified until the end of the festive season.
Roadblocks in various strategic routes will focus on drunken driving, roadworthiness and other offences. Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, the department conducted a roadblock at the Oribi Toll Plaza, in the Ugu District Municipality.
As a result, this is what the department achieved:
- About 671 vehicles were stopped.
- About 50 motorists were charged with traffic offences.
- About 6 taxis were impounded for transporting passengers without operating licences.
- One driver was arrested for drunken driving. He is a police officer stationed at the King Shaka International Airport.
- About four vehicles were suspended for unroadworthiness.
- About five foreign nationals were arrested by the Immigration and Customs Unit of the Department of Home Affairs for being in the country illegally without permits.
“Critically, as we move forward we undertake to intensify our road safety campaigns by focusing on key areas,” Duma said.
On education and awareness, Duma said that through traffic reporters such as Ayanda Msweli, they plan to roll out road safety and awareness campaigns.
“We will be targeting young people who are yet to acquire driver’s licences. We want to teach them good driving habits before they acquire bad driving habits such as drinking and driving and not wearing seatbelts,” Duma said.
On strict learners and driving licence processes, Duma said that a week ago, about 33 people appeared before the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court for acquiring driver’s licences through fraudulent processes. To date, the list has increased to 67.
“We are intensifying our fight against the fraudulent syndicate operating in various licensing centres in municipalities,” Duma said.
“We want to create a new culture. We say to communities, you must not get a driver’s licence in a hurry just because it is a requirement for the job. We want to use life skills period to teach young people about road safety in South Africa. By the time our learners are 17 years of age they must receive their learner’s licence, by the time they are 18 years of age they must receive their driver’s licence.”
Then on road infrastructure, Duma said they continue to use cutting-edge technology as they construct safe and user-friendly roads.
“A total of R8.7 billion is being spent on transport infrastructure,” Duma said.
“Over R3.7 billion is going into constructing new infrastructural projects (roads and bridges), while over R4 billion has been set aside to maintain our road network.
“In addition, over R58 million is going into infrastructure planning and design, with over R920 million being allocated to support programmes within transport infrastructure.”
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995.
Daily News