Durban — The Department of Transport has revived discussion around the implementation of the demerit points system (DPS) after two collisions that claimed the lives of 12 people this weekend.
The DPS is intended to discourage motorists from disobeying the law by putting their privilege to drive in jeopardy if they repeatedly flout the law.
The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, touched on the DPS after a collision between a truck and a seven-seater Toyota Avanza that claimed the lives of seven high school pupils in Mandeni on Friday.
Duma said that he has tasked the head of the department, Siboniso Mbhele, and the Chief Director of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), advocate Shadrack Nxumalo, to give him a report on the state of readiness around the implementation of the DPS.
“While I understand that the demerit points system for road traffic infringements is set to kick-start in September 2025, I believe that KwaZulu-Natal needs to move with speed and ensure that we implement it swiftly across all corners of the province,” Duma said.
“We commit to working with the Road Traffic Infringement Agency to administer the demerit points system as part of zero tolerance.
“Importantly, we are eager to get the system up and running as part of improving road safety by discouraging repeat traffic offences and encouraging better driving habits.”
The driver of the truck, Bongani Ndaba, survived the crash and was receiving treatment at a Richards Bay hospital. Duma said they located Ndaba’s family in Bergville and he was hopeful that Ndaba would recover from his injuries.
“The Ndaba family is showing unbelievable strength and compassion. The fact that they arrived in Richards Bay to see the families of the victims is a clear display of Ubuntu,” Duma said.
“What saddens us is that the victims of this road accident include young people full of life and potential.”
The memorial service and funeral for the victims will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
Another incident involved a bus that veered off the road near Port Shepstone and overturned as it plummeted down an embankment on Saturday. Four passengers died. The bus was en route from the Eastern Cape to Durban on the N2. Injured passengers were treated at a nearby hospital.
Duma said a team from the RTI, working with the SAPS, arrested the bus driver. He was charged with culpable homicide. The bus was impounded at the RTI offices in Port Shepstone.
Duma said the bus company had many questions to answer, including why it allowed a driver without a professional driving permit (PrDP) to transport passengers and how it obtained a roadworthy certificate.
“Our preliminary investigations show that the bus is unroadworthy and (was) riddled with mechanical faults. We will not allow this company or any other company to have moving coffins on our road,” Duma said.
“If there is clear evidence of fraud and corruption, owners must be locked up in prison. Not only the driver must face consequences, but the owners as well.”
Duma reminded drivers that the “life of the next person is in your hands”.
“Through speed, reckless driving and disregarding the rules of the road there is another family that will lose a breadwinner, a son, a daughter, a mother, a father and a loved one.”
Meanwhile, the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) urged parents to be cautious when they hire private transport to take their children to school.
WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.
Daily News