EFF statement on the festive season road accident fatalities
17 January 2023
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the publishing of road accident fatalities for the 2022/23 festive season by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula. Mr. Mbalula reports that 1451 people perished on the roads of South Africa during this period.
While this is a reduction from the same period in the previous year, which saw 1685 deaths on our roads; this is not something to be celebrated. People continue to die on the roads because of the inability of law enforcement agencies to enforce the law, and because of the disastrous state of our roads in the country.
While speeding and alcohol abuse contribute significantly to these accidents, it is the inability of those tasked with enforcing road rules that is at the center of these preventable deaths. There is simply no capacity or willingness to ensure strict compliance with the law on our roads, allowing delinquent drivers and those not licensed to drive to inflict unimaginable pain and suffering on other road users.
All three spheres of government must take responsibility for the lawlessness that has characterized South African roads and take responsibility for the deaths of so many of our compatriots.
Even for those who adhere to the laws of the road, it is practically impossible to avoid accidents in many of our roads in this country because of the sheer disregard for road maintenance by government. Most of our road network is littered potholes that make it impossible to drive safely from one place to another. Places like Ermelo in Mpumalanga, Mangaung in the Free State, East London in the Eastern Cape and many more areas in the country have completely degenerated, and there is no attempt by the State to maintain the roads.
Driving in these areas is an impossible mission, making accidents regular occurrences. People are dying on our roads because Mbalula and those around him have absconded from their responsibility to maintain our roads.
It is also undeniable that the collapse of the rail network has led to an increase of the rate of transportation of goods by road. The trucks which transport these goods are a menace on the road, leading to many accidents. This again is the failure of government to regulate the transportation of heavy goods by trucks on the road. Without a properly functioning rail network, these sorts of accidents are only going to increase.
The EFF extends its condolences to the families and friends of all those who have passed away, and we wish speedy recoveries to those still suffering from injuries from these accidents.
Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 18 January 2023
