MMC Molwele calls for vigilance on the roads

11 December 2015

 

The City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Councillor Nonceba Molwele, on Thursday December 10 called on all South Africans to be vigilant on the roads as accidents were claiming too many lives.

 

The MMC was speaking at a memorial service for eight congregants of the Methodist Church in Zone 2 Diepkloof, Soweto, who died tragically outside Middelburg in the Eastern Cape on December 5 when the taxi they were travelling in on their way from a church service in Uitenhage collided with a truck. The drivers of both vehicles were also killed.

Four passengers survived the accident but two of them are still in hospital in Port Elizabeth. Survivor Thulani Zwane attended the service. Zwane, who is still traumatised by the accident, said he thought his life was spared for a reason.

“I was sitting behind the driver ... I survived by God’s grace.”

Relatives of the dead were comforted by MMC Molwele and members of the congregation.

In her speech MMC Molwele, who was representing Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau, called on South Africans to unite and fight crime and drugs. She said crime, drugs, alcohol, road rage and accidents were tearing communities apart.

“Yesterday I visited families of two nine-year-old girls. One of the girls is missing and the other one was found dead. Why is all this happening?

“How do we educate people that [stray] cattle should not be on the road because they cause accidents? The deaths of these people should bring change. They should bring us closer to God. On behalf of the mayor, the City and the citizens of Johannesburg, I would like to say we are with you in your grief and pain. We’re City that cares,” she said.

“Society is sick and in pain, society is bleeding. It’s up to us to heal our society. But we can only do this with you.”

Pastor Ceniva Kai also called on motorists to drive carefully, particularly this festive season

“As a church we must pray for accidents to end. To the families we say be comforted in the knowledge that this is God’s will. For healing to start, we have to accept what has happened. May God comfort you as you go through this most difficult period,” he said.