Bakkie crash: Another TEN killed

MAHIKENG, North West - Ten people have been killed in a collision involving a bakkie. This time the incident took place in near Atamelang township in the Tswaing Local Municipality, North West.

According to police, a VW Golf and a Toyota bakkie collided on Sunday (Dec 7 2014) between Delareyville and Atamelang, at around 8pm. Four people were in the Golf which was travelling to Delareyville; the bakkie was en route to Atamelang and was carrying nine people.

Ten people died and two of the three people who sustained serious injuries were transferred to Bophelong Hospital in Mahikeng. A third was taken to the nearby Delareyville Hospital, also in the North West.

CALL TO GOVERNMENT

Once again, Wheels24 implores authorities across South Africa to get off their backsides and enforce laws that prohibit the carriage of humans like animals on bakkies.

Earlier in December Wheels24 reported on 10 people who had also died due to an unroadworthy bakkie crash. And in October, the Western Cape's transport and public works department released a video in its Crash Witness CCTV series. The video shows a vehicle smashing into the rear of a bakkie causing it the collide into the road barrier, destroying its load bay. Bizarrely, the driver of the offending vehicle continues to veer off camera without any noticeable attempt to slow down or even change direction.

Once the dust clears, you can spot occupants, revealed to be children, of the wrecked bakkie's load-bay moving on the road as traffic is brought to a standstill.

GROWING CONCERN

Premier of Bokone Bophirima Province in North West, Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo reiterated a call by government to all motorists to exercise extreme caution on the road and obey all road signs and rules to ensure their own safety and that of other road users.

Mahumapelo says he was worried about the number of fatal crashes happening on the provincial road. In September 2014, 15 people died in an incident on the N18 road between Taung and Magogong, south-west of Vryburg, while a woman died in November following a head-on-collision on the N4 road near Rustenburg.

Mahumapelo has expressed sadness at the tragic road accident that claimed 10 lives near Atamelang township: “On behalf of the provincial government and the people of our province, I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who died in this tragic incident.

"We want the families to know that our thoughts are with them and that we will keep them in our prayers during this difficult time."

OK, sir, then get busy and instead of platitudes and condolences, so something about the scourge of passengers on bakkies.