Horrific truck crash – does the fault lie with the ANC?

The horrific truck crash that killed 19 school pupils and two adults in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Friday was bound to happen, the local community in the area have said. 

On Friday, 19 school pupils (aged between five and 12) and two adults died when a truck, travelling in the oncoming lane while overtaking another truck, crashed into a Toyota Hilux bakkie transporting the children on the N2.

The truck driver involved initially fled the scene, but has been arrested after handing himself over to police yesterday. 

Concerned resident Adrian Chaning-Pearce told News24 that the main issue was the destruction of the rail and ports in the area, which have led to coal being transported by road. Irrespective of the endless concerns raised about the road, law enforcement remained outdated.

‘Pongola communities using and living along the N2 are being terrorised, and [there have been warnings] that there will be problems. We have stated to the authorities that [what has happened] was only a matter of time.’

The KwaZulu-Natal traffic department said that the footage of the accident shows the truck speeding excessively and overtaking on a double barrier line.

Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka said an investigative team had worked around the clock to arrest the truck driver.

‘It is clear that the truck driver violated all the laws in the book. This is the kind of behaviour that is causing fatal crashes and it is unacceptable. The driver must face the music and we will be monitoring developments in this case,’ he said.

Hlomuka called for calm after one truck was torched by angry residents and other vehicles stoned on the N2 in Pongola on Friday night. 

[Photo: @VehicleTrackerz]