Another string of fatalities on Bloemfontein’s roads over the past week has prompted renewed calls for motorists to exercise greater patience. Operational manager at VR Medical, Pieter du Plessis, has once again urged drivers to refrain from impatience and reckless behaviour following a series of fatal accidents since last Thursday.
The first incident occurred on the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Langenhoven Park, where two people were extricated by Mangaung Fire and Rescue. A woman died at the scene.
On Friday morning (29/8), VR Medical responded to four accidents within the span of an hour – three on Curie Avenue and one near BMW in Langenhoven Park. A pedestrian involved in a hit-and-run also lost his life, Du Plessis confirmed.
On Saturday (30/8), VR Medical responded to a head-on collision on the R30 near Be Human, where three people tragically lost their lives. The incident sparked widespread commentary on social media, with residents expressing sympathy and raising concerns about road safety in the city.
“Please respect the road you travel on; you are not the only one using it. Every life matters. Care enough and slow down,” one person commented.
“I experienced the same. The way people speed and overtake on barrier lines is the main reason for all this carnage,” said another.
Over the past few weeks, Du Plessis has observed that the spike in road crashes is largely due to impatience and reckless driving. Bloemfontein Courant has reported extensively on these concerns, and community feedback has shifted the conversation toward traffic control and law enforcement visibility.
Residents are calling for stricter regulation and a more visible presence of officials on local roads.
“What do you mean by ‘be more cautious’? There are no traffic cops visible in Bloem. SAPS do nothing about people who blatantly drive through red lights…” a reader commented.
The Free State department of community safety, roads and transport has yet to respond to questions regarding the interventions it plans to implement to curb this issue.
What the community said:
Cathy Zee: Come and look at the 3-way stop where I live on the corner… General Dan Pienaar Drive and Gascony Crescent. 99% do not stop at all! It’s like living right next to a racing track! Until after 01:00 in the mornings, and then starting up again at 06:00.
John Nate: At Curie Avenue near Fleurdal Mall there’s an accident almost every day or week… It’s bad because somehow we are always rushing nowhere and never arriving. It’s bad.
Rika du Preez: There have been three accidents in three weeks in Kenneth Kaunda Road, all almost at the same spot. People drive down that road like it’s a raceway, and then they misjudge the bend in the road. And also the road rules. People do not know the rules as to who has the right of way when crossing or turning from one street into another, etc. Plain road rules are ignored. No use of indicators. The list is long.
Kevin Sadie: Early mornings, I had to stop at green lights to make way for drunks jumping red lights
Gypseenia Lion
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