Provincial Government continues to provide support to families of 16 accident victims
The Limpopo Provincial government continues to provide support and comfort to families
of the 16 accident victims that perished on the Motetema Road on 04 March 2023.
The Premier of Limpopo, Mr Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, led a strong delegation
comprising MECs for Social Development, Ms. Nandi Ndalane, Transport and Community
Safety, Ms Florence Radzilani and Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba to Elias Motsoaledi
Municipality where they met representatives of the families on 06 March 2023. There were
also representatives of the Road Accident Fund, taxi association and traditional leaders.
Addressing the bereaved families, Premier Mathabatha said: “We came here to comfort
you. We believe that our words as well as actions since the accident happened will help
restore you. We are particularly touched that among the victims of this accident there
were children involved. This saddens us the most as the future of these children has been
cut short.”
“We want to use this opportunity to warn petty politicians who are using this accident to
score points to refrain from doing such deplorable acts. They must be sensitive to this,
these are lives that we as Africans must respect,” Premier Mathabatha further remarked.
Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Radebe, gave an
account of the accident that took place on Road 579, Motetema to Groblersdal on the
morning of 04 March 2023. She said four vehicles, three mini-bus taxis traveling to the
direction of Groblersdal were involved in accident with a truck traveling towards the
direction of Motetema. Driver error was cited as the second minibus attempted overtaking
and collided with the truck that was heading to Mototema direction, affecting the two other
cars. As a result, 15 people lost lives on the scene and the other person perished in
hospital.
Marema Leonard Ramakganya who represented the bereaved families said: “Although
we are not thankful for the bereavement, we are appreciative of the assistance
government has offered us. Your ways of comforting us has placed us in a far better
place.”
The Road Accident Fund will assist the families with what has to be done in line with
applicable prescripts. Elias Motsoaledi Municipality will also play its part towards the mass
funeral. The provincial government, through Departments of Social Development,
Transport and Community Safety, and Health, shall continue to assist to make sure that
the people are buried with dignity.
There will be a mass funeral of the 15 victims on Saturday, 11 March 2023 at Tafelkop
Stadium
