DA'S CALL FOR CDE MCHUNU TO RESIGN DISINGENUOUS

10 September 2013

The call by the Democratic Alliance (DA) for KZN MEC for Transport Cde Willies Mchunu to resign following the accident that claimed 22 lives is shocking, embarrassing and the ANC condemns it in the strongest possible terms.

The call is disingenuous and does not contribute anything to attempts to eliminate deaths on our roads. We strongly believe that the statement is not only cheap politicking but also insensitive to the people who lost their loved ones during the accident.

We cannot understand why the DA has decided to blame the MEC for the accident at a time when the investigation to determine the cause of the accident is still at an embryonic stage. The preliminary investigation has revealed that the brake system on the truck that allegedly caused the accident was faulty and its permit was invalid. This is a clear indication that the truck was a ticking time bomb and could have caused an accident anywhere on our roads.

The challenge that we face is that some in the private sector want to maximise profit through deliberately avoiding compliance with all road safety regulations. We note with serious concerns that some companies employ drivers who lack the necessary experience so they can avoid paying living wages for the workers.

We urge the DA to allow the bereaved families to mourn and stop using the tragedy to achieve its cheap politicking agenda. The DA's decision to divert the attention from mourning shows that the DA lacks respect, something which is totally un-African.

The ANC is amazed that the DA has decided to overlook the issue of the alleged roadworthiness of the truck and the truck driver's alleged failure to comply with the rules of the road.

We urge our people in the province to await the finalisation of the investigation which will shed the light on the cause of the incident. Any action or call for the MEC to quit is politically-motivated and does not offer any solution to the problem of road carnage in KZN. The ANC believes Cde Mchunu has made remarkable achievements over the years in addressing bad road conditions in the province.

Statement issued by Senzo Mkhize, ANC KwaZulu-Natal, September 10 2013

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