Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House: We pause to salute health professionals who provided quality healthcare to a maiden who suffered a fractured leg after being hit by a car outside Mashobeni Royal Palace in R66.
The 17-year-old Amahle Kweyama from Richmond has quickly recovered and is heading home. I assigned a team from my office to liaise directly with Cllr Khonziwe Mkhize-the speaker of Richmond Local Municipality-and health professionals led by MEC Nomagugu Simelane.
We salute the swift reaction from all involved, including community leaders, Khaya Khumalo, and Majuba Mavuso, who worked with health professionals to assist maidens.
Importantly, the breathalyzer test conducted by the no-nonsense RTI team on the driver showed a reading of 0.74 mg of alcohol per litre in his blood-which is triple the legal limit. The driver, who works for a car dealership in Ulundi, was immediately arrested and will appear in court tomorrow.
As an executive authority empowered by the National Traffic Act to ensure an integrated approach towards the implementation of road safety and public transport plans, I am encouraged by cooperation and a high level of efficiency.
We acknowledge excellent efforts that minimized congestion and prevented major accidents around eMashobeni Palace as more than 100 buses and more than 700 taxis picked up maidens.
Credit should go to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, RTI, Operation Shanela teams; and officers deployed by traffic departments from Jozini, Umhlabuyalingana, Inkosi Mtubatuba, UPhongolo, and Abaqulusi local municipalities.
RTI and the Operation Shanela team will continue with patrols, inspections, and traffic management as maidens return home. We have received reports that other maidens have arrived home safely.
At this stage, we wish to commend bus companies, taxi operators, and all drivers for adhering to the rules of the road.
Ends
Issued by the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements
