Lungani Zungu
Angry residents in Pongola, have torched a truck near the scene of the gruesome crash that claimed the lives of 19 primary school children and two adults on Friday.
The crash, involving a truck and a bakkie ferrying the children happened on the N2 near Godlwayo in Pongola, far north of KwaZulu-Natal.
On Saturday evening, the residents blockaded the busy N2 with burning tyres and burnt a truck demanding justice for the victims.
The residents said their pleas for more safety road measures to be put in place have fallen on deaf ears over the years.
“We will continue to block this road until the government implements safety measures here. There are always accidents here because there are no strict road regulations,” said resident Smiso Khumalo.
“The delay in arresting the truck driver who fled from the scene on Friday also angered the community,” said Khumalo.
The truck driver was arrested on Saturday and is set to appear in the Pongola magistrate court on Monday.
Local community leader Ntshangase said: “People are angry following the accident. They believe that it could have been avoided.”
The IFP’s IFP spokesperson on Transport Steven Moodley, said they don’t want condolences.
“”We demand action to reduce road accidents and restore sanity on our roads,” he said.
“How many people must die before the authorities wake up from their slumber and stop the carnage on our roads?”
MEC Sipho Hlomuka is expected to visit the grieving families on Sunday.
