South Africa, North West: The MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari, has sent condolences to the families of the three patients who died in an accident yesterday morning.
According to the North West Department of Health, the patient transport driver lost control of the R503 near Rooigrond towards Mahikeng.
Five people, including the driver, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
According to the information, the driver was destructed by the stray animals when he lost control, and the vehicle rolled.
MEC Lehari also wished speedy recovery to the injured. “We are trying hard as the Department to remove these stray animals off our roads through Road Safety Rangers,” said MEC Lehari.
It is not a smooth sailing process, and we need our communities, particularly those living along national roads, to work with us in ensuring our roads are safe,” said MEC Lehari, adding that the Department will continue engaging communities.
The Department continues to contract road safety rangers through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to continuously remove these stray animals from the roads on a daily basis, targeting problematic routes where a high number of incidents have been reported.
The Department has been implementing this programme on the R503 road for the past three years.
“We will continue doing our best in reducing these accidents and fatalities on the roads,” said MEC Lehari.
MEC Lehari appealed the motorists to be more cautious and aware on the road when approaching residential areas where there could be possible stray animals.
Moreover, accidents due to stray animals are very common in South Africa; a few months back, there was an accident on N18, Vryburg Road, about 25kms to Mahikeng in the area of Madibe-a-Makgabana… Be careful and look out for stray animals.
Fortunately, there weren’t any serious injuries. A lady and baby who could be 2/3 years old were the only ones with minor injuries. They came out of this car.