Premier Stan drums up respect for the rules of the road
Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha has pleaded with road users in the province to adhere to the rules of the road, to prevent falling victim to fatalities resulting from accidents, especially on the N1 between Kranskop and Mookgophong.
Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha has pleaded with road users in the province to adhere to the rules of the road, to prevent falling victim to fatalities resulting from accidents, especially on the N1 between Kranskop and Mookgophong.
The premier was speaking on the occasion of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which was held at Modimolle’s Ephraim Mogale Stadium on Sunday, 18 November.
The premier said most of the accidents could be prevented, if motorists stuck to the rules of the road.
“Where the road signs forbid you to overtake, do not overtake. Where the rules of the road instruct you to stop, please do not proceed until it is safe to do so,” Mathabatha said.
The premier described the three recent accidents which happened on the N1 in Limpopo as horrific.
He also expressed concern on the allegations that the most recent accident, which claimed six lives, was the result of chaos which erupted when a truck that was evading a hijacking attempt,
was involved in a multiple vehicle crash.
The Minister of Transport, Blade Nzimande, said there was a need for government to invest in a passenger rail service between Polokwane and Johannesburg, as a solution to the scourge of road
accidents, often resulting in fatalities.
Nzimande also voiced concern over the killing of traffic officers on the roads, apparently by drivers who refused to stop when they were flagged to do so by officers on duty.
He said most of the traffic officers were ran over by speeding vehicles, while others were shot by alleged criminal elements, along the stretch of road linking Gauteng with the northernmost
parts of Limpopo.
“We want to call upon our communities and road users, to please respect our traffics cops. All they are doing is to make sure that you are safe on the roads,” he said.
The minister said government was planning to upgrade the N1 between Kranskop and Makhado, to a dual carriageway.
He said the project, which was estimated at an overall cost of around R4 billion, was also expected to create direct and indirect job opportunities.
— The BEAT
