The N10 national road near Nxuba (formerly Cradock) and Middelburg has earned a notorious reputation as one of the deadliest stretches of road in the Eastern Cape, with several fatal accidents attributed to the high volume of heavy freight trucks using this route.
The persistent disregard for road rules by truck drivers has created a state of lawlessness on the road, culminating in yet another devastating accident that has taken the lives of four much-loved Nxuba residents over the weekend.
The fatal accident occurred on Saturday when a truck is alleged to have swung into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the car in which the four were travelling.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) extends our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have so tragically passed away in this horrendous accident.
Despite repeated warnings and calls for action by the DA, the Eastern Cape government has not taken the necessary steps to mitigate the carnage on our roads. The situation on high-risk routes, such as the N10, N2, and R61, remains dire, with numerous lives lost on these treacherous stretches.
I will be writing to the MEC for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, demanding that urgent and concrete action steps be taken to ensure safer roads.
These action steps include:
- 24/7 Traffic Law Enforcement: High-risk routes must be continuously monitored, and additional resources must be allocated to ensure visibility and proactive intervention.
- Average Speed Over Distance Cameras: Proven effective in the DA-governed Western Cape, these systems should be implemented on the most dangerous stretches, like the N2, to reduce speeding and reckless driving.
- Targeted Roadblocks and Sobriety Checks: Stricter penalties for drunk and negligent drivers are non-negotiable. These measures must be consistently enforced to deter law-breaking behaviour.
The DA will not rest until the Eastern Cape government takes decisive action to protect lives.
The current administration’s leadership and solutions have fallen short in addressing this crisis. The people of the Eastern Cape deserve better, and the DA will continue to champion road safety initiatives to prevent further tragedies.