Due to the ever-changing business environment South Africa has also found a way to develop internationally within the trucking industry however, South Africa was yet again shaken by the recent news of the Pongola truck accident. Truck drivers are well acknowledged for their hard work, efficiency, and dedication in delivering packages across different countries around the world but with every good thing that happens in the world there is bound to a bad thing that happens in return.
On 16 September 2022 a truck driver by the name Sibusiso Siyaya was involved in a crash onto a bakkie transporting children from school due to reckless driving. It was later revealed to Eyewitness News (EWN) by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula that “the report found that the driver of the articulated truck overtook multiple vehicles where this action was prohibited by no overtaking lanes, in a dangerous and unlawful manner.”
Due to Mr Siyaya’s actions after fleeing the scene he had made the decision of handing himself over to the authorities when the police launched a manhunt for him. It was announced that Mr Siyaya is expected to appear in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Monday 26 September 2022 for a bail application but EWN states that, because Mr Siyaya has dropped his application for bail, he is expected to be in court on 25 October 2022. In accordance with the National Prosecuting Authority Mr Siyaya is facing 21 counts of culpable homicide.
An accident like Mr Siyaya’s case can bring about irreparable damage to the road routes in Pongola where the accident occurred, it will also slow down the long distant delivery services within the country which then will lead to the continual decline in South Africa’s international economy.
Zululand District Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi has proposed to News24 that truck drivers should only drive at night as to keep any truck related accidents to a bare minimum however, for this to be implemented well the railway system needs to be used as a means of transporting products that most trucks would transport to keep trucks on the road at a minimum.
The South African news agency (SAnews) states that President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the grieving families and wished survivors a speedy and full recovery he goes on further to say “we cannot afford to lose such precious lives under any conditions. I hope the investigation into the Pongola incident will shed light on the cause of this tragedy and help us take better care of our children in the future.”
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