Gauteng road carnage continues unabated – DA
The lack of intervention by the Gauteng Provincial Government to curb the horrendously high number of road fatalities in the province over the festive season has resulted in 212 deaths.
This is according to Justus de Goede MPL, DA Gauteng spokesperson on transport.
Before the start of the 2014/15 festive season, the DA appealed to the Gauteng Provincial Government for a focused intervention by traffic authorities to reduce the horrific accident and death toll on South African and Gauteng roads.
“It is clear that, despite our constant pleas, nothing has changed the attitude of motorists and law enforcement authorities,” said de Goede.
“Despite the fact that South Africa has far more road accidents and fatalities than countries with similar levels of development, there is a reluctance to impose harsher penalties on law breakers.”
According to de Goede, there are no real consequences for irresponsible road behaviour, such as the withdrawal of licences, the impounding of vehicles and the successful prosecution of fleet owners who effectively allow their employees onto the road armed with the equivalent of lethal weapons.
Without political will and a real understanding of the underlying causes of road chaos on Gauteng’s roads, the situation will be repeated year after year.
“It is essential that the provincial government identify and treat this situation like the emergency it is,” said de Goede.
“I will request that Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane provide an explanation for the unnecessary waste of human life and an action programme as to how incidents like these will be avoided in the future.” – @IschkeBoksburg
