By: Natasha Archary
The passing of Free State MEC, Tate Makgoe and his bodyguard over the weekend, had Sizwe Dhlomo questioning why politicians have to travel at such high speeds?
Is it for safety reasons that Ministers, MEC’s, Mayors etc that their blue light brigade breaks the speed limits? How safe are these high speed commutes if it’s endangering the lives of others on the roads, and often ending with the occupants losing their lives?
Makgoe and his bodyguard were killed early on Sunday when their car collided with two cows.
Last year, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport was involved in a car crash which resulted in the vehicle rolling over several times.
The MEC’s car reportedly hit a pothole which caused a tyre to burst.
In 2021, Joburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo and two other people died in a horrific crash on the Golden Highway in the south of Johannesburg.
The mayor’s blue light brigade hit an on-coming vehicle as the driver tried to avoid a pedestrian who was crossing the road.
Both cars were said to be travelling at speeds well above the speed limit when the crash occurred.
The ongoing challenge posed by “blue-light driving” is further reflected in the previous conviction and sentencing for reckless driving of Joseph Semitjie.
The driver of then Gauteng Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi, after he skipped a red light and collided with young motorcyclist Thomas Ferreira, causing serious head injuries.
Along with convictions on related charges, Semitjie was sentenced to an effective five years in prison.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Drive:
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