Durban - KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Sipho Hlomuka announced that he has issued a directive for an integrated plan to be developed that focuses on heavy vehicles, following several fatal accidents across KZN.
This comes after a horrific crash on the N3 in Mariannhill on Tuesday. Paramedics said four people died in the crash while the Department said three deaths had been confirmed.
Hlomuka said the plan would involve checking driver documentation, roadworthiness of the trucks and other compliance issues.
“We will also be engaging with the trucking industry to agree on fundamental safety improvement plans, compliance and monitoring of their drivers,” said Hlomuka.
He expressed concerns over the alarming number of accidents involving trucks in the province and said something extraordinary needs to be done to save the lives of innocent people on the roads.
The MEC welcomed the arrest of a truck driver involved in the Mariannhill accident.
“We welcome the fact that the driver is going to be facing charges. We also want action to be taken against the truck company as well,” he said.
He said the truck driver was detained and will appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court today. He faces a number of charges, including culpable homicide and negligent driving.
Hlomuka said there is a multi-disciplinary team from different agencies who are investigating the possible causes of this accident.
“The run-away truck couldn’t stop, drove uncontrollably to cause a pile up of 15 vehicles in a traffic jammed N3,” he said.
Hlomuka said the son of a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Minority Front (MF) leader Shameen Thakur Rajbansi, and his fiancée, were among the deceased.
“We also wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Rajbansi family and wish a speedy recovery to all those who are hospitalised,” he said.