MAKHADO – "I admit, it is another example of unnecessary deaths, said the MEC for Transport, Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, after receiving a memorandum from a local attorney, Mr Charles Pieterse on behalf of an angry community of Makhado.

The memorandum was presented last Thursday, during a protest march after the tragic death of two children on the N1-road at Makhado the previous week. They were killed, after a runaway truck hit the bakkie in which they were travelling.

In the memorandum, the community pleads with the government to intervene in the situation and to defend the lives of the local residents. According to the memorandum, the fact that heavy vehicles are forced to use the N1 road over the Soutpansberg Mountain is one of the important reasons for the high number of accidents on that road.

Dr Farisani expressed his sympathy with the Du Preez couple, who lost their children in the accident. He added that the government will look into the matter of heavy vehicles on the mountain. He added that a task team is looking into the matter and promised that they will work hand in hand with the community.

He, however, could not say what the immediate plans in connection with the matter are. He also ignored a question on why he did not reacted to several letters in connection with the problem in the past, which warned him that something like this is bound to happen.