The number of people killed on the roads in the North West roads has risen to 14, since April 1 and there is a growing concern over the increase in the number of pedestrians hit by cars, says the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.
The spokesperson for the department, Oshebeng Koonyaditse, said five people lost their lives in recently reported incidents and this brings the number of fatalities to 14.
“A pedestrian was hit by a car in Klerksdorp and a motorist died instantly in an accident in Lichtenburg. Three other people died in a head-on collision between two light motor vehicles in Mogwase near Sun City. The driver of the other vehicle and two other passengers are hospitalised with serious injuries.
“However, for the Easter period, four fatalities have been recorded on Thursday, 6 April, and three in Mogwase on Saturday, 8 April 2023. A twelve-year-old boy was hit by a car on Thursday evening at 20:45 in Ikageng in Potchefstroom.
“Enraged community members became aggressive towards the driver and the passenger but they were rescued by the law enforcement officers. But their vehicle was thereafter torched by the community.
“Eight fatalities recorded earlier in the week – one at Mogopela village in Taung, two in Koster, three in Ledig near Mogwase and two in Lichtenburg. There is also a growing trend of pedestrians who are hit by vehicles and most of them seemingly coming from hostels,” Koonyaditse said.
He said the joint law enforcement operations conducted in the province from the beginning of April resulted in the arrest of 15 undocumented foreigners, who were handed over to immigration officials.
The department has urged road users to exercise caution and adhere to the road rules, as traffic volumes are expected to increase from Sunday.
