SACP Mpumalanga saddened by the Moloto Road Accident

12 November 2013

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Mpumalanga has learned with great sadness the unfortunate accident which claimed 29 lives at Moloto Road(R573) in Thembisile Hani municipality.

The SACP sends a message of condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes those who are still in different medical facilities a speedy recovery. May they get comfort in this trying times.

Moloto road is known for accidents. However we do not believe a road can be deadly without a catalyst.

The arrogance, roadworthiness and reckless driving the working class experience from the service provider PUTCO at times becomes the cause. During the Transport Month (October) the Imbizo held at Moloto made an outcry on this service provider. For how long must lives be lost before the the public works, roads and transport department intervenes?

Buses remain the reasonable mode of transport for our parents, brothers and sisters travelling daily to Tshwane, and PUTCO holds monopoly on the road, thus it subjects the working class to its dilapidated conditions.

We call on the MEC to decisively intervene before it is too late. The commitment she showed during the Imbizo should not just be a lip-service but an action in bringing a better, reliable, safe and affordable public transform and in addressing PUTCO`s monopoly.

A PUTCO bus is mostly involved in most accidents that happen on Moloto Road, hence we dismiss the notion of the road being a killer road. The road lanes were expanded but accidents involving PUTCO buses continue.

We call on the national government to speed up the process of introducing efficient and effective rail transport as is the most reliable, safest and affordable mode of transport suited to the kind of commuting taking place in the Moloto Road corridor, which connects three provinces, Mpumalanga, Gauteng ant Limpopo.

We call on the transport authorities to ensure that all unroadworthy vehicles providing transport services to our people are immediately taken off our roads. We also call on all transport services providers to put the life of our people first, and not the profits!!!

MAY THE SOUL OF THE DEPARTED REST IN PEACE

Issued by SACP Mpumalanga

Enquiries:

Bonakele Majuba - Provincial Secretary 082 968 4877.
Lesetja Dikgale - Provincial Spokesperson 076 869 4360.
Tinyiko Gift Ntini - Provincial Media Liaison 073 811 2020.