Premier asks for road safety campaign to be stepped up

Pietermaritzburg - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu has called on newly appointed MEC for Transport Mxolisi Kaunda and MEC for Education Mthandeni Dlungwane to work together to intensify road safety campaigns to prevent the loss of young people’s lives as a result of road accidents.

The MEC was speaking in Newcastle on Wednesday during a visit to a memorial site erected in honour of 31 learners and four adults who were killed in a collision involving a truck and a bus in April 1998.

“As we celebrate the 40th ­anniversary of June 16, we celebrate these landmarks in our history not because they were happy events, but because they represented turning points in the struggle for freedom and democracy,” ­Mchunu said.

The premier said June 16 was an opportunity to reflect on the past and use our rich history to ensure a better life for all.

“As we march into the future, I am mindful that we are now a united nation. The people of this province now live in a free, democratic and equal society,” he said.

Mchunu explained that the freedom and democracy we were enjoying now was an indication that the past generations of young people were ­successful in answering questions they faced at that time.

“The central question facing the youth today is deepening democracy and expanding opportunities to the previously disadvantaged communities that continue to be mired in the triangle of poverty, inequality and unemployment,” he said.

The premier also called on the youth to become part of ­activities aimed at fighting HIV and Aids.

“We are concerned about the high rate of HIV infection, especially amongst young girls between the ages of 15 and 24. For this reason that the provincial government is investing towards health education and other youth empowerment programmes. There is great hope that with all the opportunities that have been made available by this democratic government, the youth of today will rise to the occasion,” he said.

Over the past five years the KZN government has spent more than R1.5 billion on bursaries awarded to more that 7 000 needy students.