Gauteng road carnage continues unabated

de-Goede,-JustusThe lack of intervention by the Gauteng Provincial Government to curb the horrendously high number of road fatalities in the province over the festive season has tragically resulted in 212 deaths.

Before the start of the 2014/2015 festive season, the Democratic Alliance appealed to the Gauteng Provincial Government for a focussed intervention by traffic authorities to reduce the horrific accident and death toll on South African and Gauteng roads.

It is clear that despite our constant pleas, nothing has changed the attitude of motorists and law enforcement authorities.

Despite the fact that South Africa has far more road accidents and fatalities than countries with similar levels of development, there is a reluctance to impose harsher penalties on law breakers.

There are no real consequences for irresponsible road behaviour such as the withdrawal of licences, the impounding of vehicles and the successful prosecution of fleet owners who effectively allow their employees onto the road armed with lethal weapons.

Without political will and a real understanding of the underlying causes of road chaos on Gauteng’s roads, the situation will be repeated year after year.

It is essential that the Provincial Government identify and treat this situation like the emergency it is.

I will request that Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, provide an explanation for the unnecessary waste of human life and an action programme as to how incidents like these will be avoided in the future.

Media enquiries:
Justus de Goede MPL
DA Gauteng spokesperson on transport
060 558 8305