The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says many of the crashes are as a result of reckless and negligent driving, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) says scores of motorists will spend Christmas behind bars after they were arrested for breaking the law.
While scores of South Africans are celebrating Christmas with their loved ones, some people didn’t make it home due to car accidents, which resulted in fatalities.
In one of the latest incidents, five people were killed in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg, when two vehicles collided. Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane says accident claimed the lives of five people.
“I am aware of one major crash that happened in Ennerdale, where two vehicles collided and five people were killed and two were injured. There was also another crash in Lephalale in Limpopo and there was one in Emmerspoort, so all of those would have claimed about 15 lives all together.”
On Monday morning, two people, an adult and a child, were killed in a collision on the R24, about 10 kilometers outside Rustenburg. When paramedics arrived on the scene they found the two vehicles mangled together. ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak says nine people have also been injured after two vehicles collided on the N12, east the R50 in Delmas.
Vermaak says the exact cause of the accident is not yet known. “A bakkie and a light delivery vehicle collided with each other. Nine people were left with minor to moderate injuries. When paramedics arrived on scene they found all the occupants from the vehicles standing outside the two wreckage. They were assessed on scene and transported to nearby hospitals.”
Meanwhile, dozens of motorists were arrested in Johannesburg over the weekend for speeding, reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. The JMPD says there will be zero-tolerance towards drunken drivers and speeding motorists this festive season.
Spokesperson Edna Mamonyane says, “the Johannesburg metro police department has been out in numbers this past weekend. We had quite a number of people who were arrested for high speed as well as drinking and driving. We are warning all the motorists and citizens to say please enjoy responsibly and don’t drink and drive and don’t drink and walk because you might be a danger to other road users.”
