Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has called on South Africans to observe Friday as National Day of Prayer for Road Safety.
The National Road Safety Prayer Day will be held at Boekenhoutkloof Traffic Training College in Tshwane.
It forms part of commemorations for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on 20 November, to mourn the nearly 1.3 million people who lost their lives and the millions of others who were injured on the world's roads this year.
Ndebele is firm on the role of all South Africans in the fight against road carnage, saying that while road safety is a key priority of the South African government, it is not only government's responsibility.
"During this Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, every citizen must become part of the global movement to create a safer road environment for all our people. We are calling upon all South Africans to join us in observing National Road Safety Prayer Day and World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Friday, to pray for safety on the roads during the forthcoming festive season," he said.
Ndebele conveyed condolences to the families of those killed in the latest fatal incident. At least 20 people lost their lives on the N1 between Leeu-Gamka and Prince Albert road in the Western Cape when two mini-bus taxis heading towards Cape Town hit a truck.
"We want to convey condolences to the families of those killed in yet another horrific road crash in the Western Cape, and wish those injured a speedy recovery," he said.
Officials from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) are providing assistance to the affected families. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has dispatched an independent team of accident investigation and reconstruction specialists to help in the investigation of this crash.
"We are repeating our calls for all public transport operators to ensure that no long-distance trip is undertaken without a relief driver, particularly as we head towards the December holidays. No mercy will be shown to any road user who disobeys rules of the road," the minister said.
Ndebele recently launched the I-Pledge road safety campaign with IMPERIAL Holdings, road safety experts and other stakeholders.
