A horrific crash between a truck and a minibus taxi on the N1 on the eve of the Easter weekend saw seven fatalities, putting the need for improved law enforcement firmly in the spotlight.
The head-on collision occurred near the Kranskop Toll Plaza resulting in the Kranskop and Mookgopong off ramp being closed in both directions.
“Traffic is being diverted to the R33 and R 101,” said the MEC of the Limpopo Department of Transport, Makoma Grace Makhurupetje.
A spokesperson for the department was unable to say how long the off ramp would be closed.
This was just hours before Minister of Transport, Blade Ndzimande, embarked on his Easter Road Safety campaign on the N1 Petroport where he interacted with drivers and issued the usual heavy-handed warnings about stepped up traffic enforcement and stricter infringement penalties.
But the Automobile Association of South Africa has long been vocal about its concern around the efficacy of these campaigns as road fatalities continue to pile up year after year, especially during peak holiday periods.
According to the latest statistics published on the World Health Organisation website, South Africa is among the worst performing countries regarding fatalities on its roads, recording an average 25.9 deaths per 100 000 people on its roads.
