The African Transformation Movement has lambasted the government for what it says is “abject failure to respond decisively to the recent weather crisis that left an estimated 1,823 vehicles stranded on the N3 highway.
The severe weather conditions also resulted in the tragic loss of two lives, national road traffic authorities reported.
ATM national spokesperson Zama Ntshona said this situation highlights the alarming lack of effective leadership and urgency from the government in times of crisis.
Severe weather conditions brought heavy snowfall across parts of Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape over the past weekend.
ALSO READ: Western Cape govt welcomes R114 million disaster relief fund.
Traveling became extremely hazardous on the N3 Toll Route, particularly between Warden and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal.
Other routes that were affected include the N11 Ladysmith to Newcastle; N11 Amajuba Pass; R33 Vryheid to Dundee, water damping on the road at Cotswold; R34 Newcastle to Bloodriver/Vryheid; R33 Vryheid to Paulpietersburg; R34 Vryheid to Melmoth; R69 Vryheid to Pongola; and N2 Richards Bay to Piet Retief.
One of the questions posed by Ntshona in light of this disaster is, “Which government director or agency was entrusted with managing the response, and what concrete actions did they take to address this dire situation?”
Additionally, the ATM is challenging the government to inform the public of measures that will be taken “to rectify these failures and prevent similar catastrophes from occurring in the future”.
“It is clear that the South African government is lacking the political will to prioritise the safety and well-being of its citizens. We call for immediate action to ensure that future crises are met with the urgency and effectiveness they demand,” Ntshona emphasized.
READ MORE: WHO responds to health crisis caused by flooding in Nigeria.
1 Comment
Pingback: Another snowstorm forecast to hit KZN high-ground areas - Sociopolitical Discourse Agency