GEORGE NEWS - Easter Weekend claimed three lives in George - two on the roads and one in a fire.
A man from Thembalethu, Bonani Richman Sonwabo Nduku (44), lost his life when the car in which he was a passenger was hit by a drunk driver on the N2, between the Garden Route Mall and the Thembalethu bypass. The accident took place at 19:30 on Saturday evening 20 April. Nduku died on the scene.
A sixty-year-old male was arrested on a charge of manslaughter and drunk driving. Mario Abraham Jafta (60) appeared in the Thembalethu Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. He was released on R1 000 bail and will appear again on 30 May.
According to Capt Malcolm Pojie, Southern Cape police spokesperson, both vehicles were travelling in the direction of Thembalethu when the suspect's vehicle hit another vehicle from behind. The woman who was driving the vehicle that was hit, lost control and the car rolled.
The woman was taken to a hospital in George and was later discharged. According to Pojie, none of the passengers in the vehicle driven by the suspect were injured.
In a separate incident a pedestrian, Frans Duwayne (23), was killed when he was knocked down on the R404 in Geelhoutboom on Friday 19 April.
The third person to lose his life over Easter was Lulama Tom (32), who died in a shack fire in Lukhanyo Street, Zone 8, early on Saturday morning.
George Fire Department responded to five fires at informal structures in zones 6, 8, 9, and Tabata Street, on the first two days of the Easter weekend. Nine structures burnt down.
Accidents and drunk driving
George Traffic Department attended to nine road accidents in and around George over the weekend. Two arrests were made for drunken driving and numerous speeding tickets and fines were issued. Integrated roadblocks were held with Western Cape Provincial Traffic and the police.
The department attended to three accidents in the Outeniqua Pass and an accident on the N9 near Uniondale in which a vehicle rolled and 10 people sustained light injuries.
"The department also responded to a burning vehicle in Thembalethu and three vegetation fires," said Athane Scholtz, media liaison officer of George Municipality. She confirmed that no serious incidents were reported to Law Enforcement.
"George Municipality wishes to thank the public for their cooperation and responsible actions over the weekend and appeals to everyone to take care on the road in wet conditions," said Scholtz.
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