Watch: Commuters flee car cras

Image via Twitter: Kgauza Lecowza
@kgaugelo_SM

Watch: Commuters flee car crash scene, Lesufi blasts drunk driving [video]

Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, is calling for an end to alcohol consumption in South Africa.

Watch: Commuters flee car cras

Image via Twitter: Kgauza Lecowza
@kgaugelo_SM

Video footage showing passengers and the alleged driver fleeing the scene of an accident has renewed calls for a zero-tolerance approach to drunk driving, with Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi blasting the consumption of alcohol.

For all its cheer, the festive season brings with it a deadly dichotomy – alcohol consumption increases, so too does the volume of traffic on South Africa’s roads. This results in carriageway carnage, with the period between December and January being, statistically, the deadliest period for road commuters and pedestrians.

The festive period in 2018 cost 1 612 people their lives on the road and left countless more seriously injured, mutilated and incapacitated. Driving under the influence of alcohol has been highlighted as one of the leading contributors to the December death-toll.

Deadly December for road users

While Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has promised to crack down on drunk drivers – mainly by increasing police presence, spot checks, roadblocks and the use of technological advancements, fatalities have already started stacking up, well before the usual December rush in the week leading up to Christmas. In an attempt to dissuade motorists from boozing before they get behind the wheel, Mbalula said that drunk drivers would face the full might of the law, explaining:

“The demerit system will also deal with the reduction of points and taking away driver’s licenses. Drunk drivers should spend time in jail and we are determined to ensure that the law bites going forward.”

Watch: Drunk occupants flee car crash scene

Lesufi, who has been outspoken on the issue of alcohol consumption in South Africa, took to Twitter and shared video footage which typifies the reckless behaviour of drunk drivers. While no further details accompany the video footage, passengers and the alleged driver can be seen exiting from the badly damaged vehicle, which has clearly rolled multiple times.

As the occupants stagger from the vehicle, ostensibly inebriated, passers-by film the scene in shock. After gathering a few possessions from the wreck, the occupants flee the scene, leaving the vehicle in somebody’s front yard. Lesufi captioned the video:

“The price we continue to pay for worshipping this drug called alcohol, the enemy of the nation.”

Lesufi explained that alcohol consumption led to antisocial behaviour, violence and death – particularly during December, when festive boozing increases dramatically. The MEC added:

“Alcohol is bad and we are scared to confront this demon that is destroying our children and young people. We must all join the struggle to discourage young people to drink this drug. It’s no good!”