President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to the families of 16 people that were killed in a bus crash on the R21 near OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday morning.
Ramaphosa expressed deep sadness over the deaths and offered his sympathies to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the survivors.
He also conveyed his thoughts to the families of at least nine bus passengers who lost their lives in an incident in KwaZulu-Natal this past weekend, in which 39 people were injured as well.
“While the causes of these recent incidents are still under investigation, we are reminded that tragedies such as these leave more than physical scars, as they cause trauma that affects family relationships and the lives of survivors,” Ramaphosa said.
He noted that such incidents significantly affect individuals' ability to earn a living and place immense pressure on health and emergency services. Additionally, they drive up insurance costs and adversely impact local businesses that lose personnel.
“As the country reflects on the lives that have been lost, he said South Africa must also reflect on the responsibility and conduct of everyone who gets in behind the wheel of a vehicle, big and small, in our country.
“When we ask how safe our roads are, we actually need to ask how safe we are as drivers and pedestrians. The biggest factor in crashes is human error, not law enforcement or road conditions,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa urged drivers to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy and to obey the rules of the road.
“They are there to keep us safe,” he said.
“Where drivers ignore these rules, they stand a chance of losing their lives or being critically injured. And where they survive, they will end up in our courts and correctional centres,” Ramaphosa added.
Meanwhile, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) also extended its condolences to the families of 16 victims.
“The union’s thoughts and prayers are also with the 45 injured people who have been taken to various hospitals, while some are still stuck in and under the bus,” MISA’s Chief Executive Officer for Operations, Martlé Keyter said.
MISA has also voiced concerns about the increased number of bus crashes and people losing their lives.
According to the union, the bus crash in Ekurhuleni comes after a Free State bus killed 10 people, injuring over 20, with four bodies remaining unidentified.
It further said eight people died after a bus tyre burst on the N2 between Mandeni and Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal in the past weekend.
“Our roads should not claim lives like this, drivers should always be cautious, with bus drivers carrying large numbers of people. We also urge people to be more patient on the roads, especially with the stormy weather we are having,” says Keyter.
A Road Traffic Management Corporation study reported that over five years, buses were involved in 323 fatal crashes in South Africa, many resulting in 487 deaths.
Gauteng recorded the highest number, with 76 fatal crashes.
“Let us always proceed with caution and patience,” Keyter added.
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