By Bhekisisa Mncube
Durban – KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu has sent his condolences to the families of those who died in another accident in Field’s Hill, near Pinetown.
On Monday, an accident involving a truck claimed two lives and left 20 injured.
According to the Department of Transport, a taxi had broken down at the side of the road and its passengers were disembarking when a second taxi coming up the hill had to swerve to avoid hitting the stationary taxi. At the same time, a truck was coming up the hill and ploughed into the taxi. It also hit the stationary taxi and its passengers.
Last month 23 people died when a truck ploughed into four taxis at the intersection.
“I am saddened that we have yet lost lives on this M13 road,” Mchunu said, adding that the accident was isolated involving a four-tonne truck and was caused by an unavoidable circumstances because of the broken down taxi.
Government was giving the M13 road accidents “its maximum attention”.
The MEC has requested Cabinet to allow him to engage with all relevant roleplayers and stakeholders in the matter. “After this engagement, I will table a comprehensive report on my findings to both Cabinet and the Legislature for debate,” he said.
Meanwhile, the eThekwini Metro Police have stepped up operations in the Fields Hill area following last month’s tragic accident.
The Head of Metro Police Commissioner Eugene Nzama had ordered that trucks, found to be unroadworthy by metro officers, be impounded pending the remedying of identified faults. Eighteen trucks have been impounded for various defects and suspected irregular authorisation permits.
“Whereas this approach is likely to create inconvenience in the freight transport industry, metro police requests the understanding and cooperation from all stakeholders,” Nzama said.
The provincial Road Transport Inspectorate (RTI) has also clamped down on trucks and impounded several vehicles considered to be unroadworthy.
MEC spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said: “Our operations will intensify while we await the MEC’s engagements with stakeholders to find a permanent solution to the M13 challenges.” SAnews.gov.za
