Families must assist to prevent further accidents - MEC Shongwe
06 March 2012
In a desperate measure to reduce road accidents, MEC Vusi Shongwe of the Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison department calls for the various religious and cultural groups to perform rituals in order to calm down the spate of accidents occurring in the province.
Among others, the rituals should include praying and other ceremonies of the different cultures of the diverse people of South Africa.
“In order to prevent the escalation of road accidents especially on same spots where accidents had previously occurred, families of the deceased must perform these rituals at the scene of the accidents as our elders use to do,” says Shongwe.
The MEC said that although it is not everyone’s belief, however it is
important because that is when the spirits of the dead are called to rest in
peace and ensuring that no further accidents occur at those spots.
According to Shongwe, most accidents usually occur on the same spots
where they previously occurred because the spirits of the dead might still be at
the accident spots.
“That is why during our road safety prayers, we invite different religious groups even traditional healers to join us to eliminate the bad spirits on those accidents spots that are known as killer roads,” said the MEC.
MEC Shongwe was speaking during an award ceremony for five provincial
drivers who will be representing the country in the International Driver of the
Year Competition to be held in North West in August this year.
Four of the drivers came first in the Male bus,
Articulated, Rigid + 4 wheel and 3,5 ton categories while the fifth one came
third in the Rigid category.
The selection was done in the competition known as “the
Best of the best” which was held at Boekenhoutskloof Traffic College north of
Pretoria on 16-17 February 2012.
The competition is aimed at encouraging responsible driving to reduce accidents on the roads.
Fifteen drivers from different provinces including the five from
Mpumalanga province will participate in the international competition.
During his address, the MEC congratulated the drivers saying they must be ambassadors of road safety and encouraged other drivers to be responsible on the road.
He added that the drivers must take pride for representing the province and should make the province proud.
The drivers are; Simon Motsepe (Male bus category), Paul Mananyetso
(Articulated category), William Ngwenya (Rigid + 4 wheel), Solly Ntuli (3, 5 ton
category) and Ellias Mosia (Rigid category).
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450
Issued by Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison
