Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department says part of its activities for this year’s October Transport Month will focus of trucks after the fatal truck accident near Pongola that claimed 20 lives including children recently.
The accident occurred along the N2 in Godlwayo in northern KZN.
The department said the activities will also include random assessments of vehicles, checks on drivers’ documentation, fitness of drivers and their conduct on the road.
The truck driver involved in the horrific Pongola crash Sibusiso Siyaya, 28, made a second appearance in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Monday and abandoned his bail application.
He faces 20 counts of culpable homicide. The case was remanded to October 25 for further investigation.
KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Sipho Hlomuka said drivers needed to take responsibility for their actions on the road, and truck owners must be held accountable for the condition of their vehicles and behaviour of their drivers.
“We are monitoring this case very closely. These developments are noted and we hope they will assist in finalising this case sooner. The families of the victims need closure and we hope with the speedy finalisation of the case they will be able to accept their loss,” said Hlomuka.
Most victims were buried at a mass funeral in Pongola at the weekend. Some were buried separately in Ngwavuma and Gauteng.
Hlomuka urged all road users to take responsibility for their actions on the province’s roads as schools were set to close for the end of term and there would be a lot of movement on the roads.