23 April 2017
The South African Communist Party in Mpumalanga Province sends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased who lost their lives in a head on collision between a bus and truck on Groblersdal Road, R25 between Bronkorspruit and Verena on Friday afternoon. The SACP wishes those who survived a speedy recovery.
It is saddening that the accident happened just hours after the Minister of Transport released the Easter statistics, which indicate that road fatalities and deaths increased dramatically. The struggle to curb road fatalities is a societal issue. It needs all of us to work together.
But most importantly, it is an indicator of persisting under-development and lack of integrated, safe, reliable and affordable public transport system which would include advanced rail trasportation system linking all major cities and towns, roadworthy busses and taxis, and safe drivers.? This is must be pursuit without fear or favour to radically reduce road fatalities and deaths and eliminate uneven development between urban and rural areas arras and with it the colonial and apartheid patterns of spatial development.
Whilst the cause of the accident is not yet known, we hope that, in the meantime, the Department of Transport will consider ceding R25 to SANRAL for proper upgrades. One life lost is too many.
Issued by SACP Mpumalanga
Contact:
Bonakele Majuba - Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 968 4877
Lesetja Dikgale - Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 076 869 4360
Nomusa Keninda - Provincial Media Liaison
Mobile: 072 741 4050