President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of 16 people in a bus crash on the R21 near OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a full recovery.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa acknowledged the broader impact of such tragedies.
“We are reminded that tragedies such as these leave more than physical scars, as they cause trauma that affects family relationships and the lives of survivors,” he said.
R21 bus crash: Impact of Road Crashes on Society
Ramaphosa highlighted the far-reaching consequences of road accidents, from economic losses to strain on emergency services.
“Incidents such as these impact on people’s ability to earn a living; they impact in our health and emergency services; they drive up insurance and result in expensive vehicle repairs, and they affect business who lose personnel in this process,” he said.
He urged all drivers to prioritise road safety and vehicle maintenance.
“Drivers must ensure vehicles are roadworthy and must obey the rules of the road. They are there to keep us safe.
“Where drivers ignore these rules, they stand a chance of losing their lives or being critically injured. And where they survive, they will end up in our courts and correctional centres,” he added.
The president also sent condolences to families of at least nine passengers who died in a separate bus accident in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend.
Concern over the rising number of bus crashes
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa raised concerns over the rising number of bus crashes.
Creecy noted that the R21 tragedy marked the third major bus accident within a week.
With passenger bus accidents on the rise, what more can be done to improve road safety in South Africa?
Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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