Cape Town – Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who has been heavily slammed on social media for the bad state of the country’s roads following the Pongola crash, has maintained that he will not be deterred by critics.
Mbalula was criticised about the poor state of roads, with many accusing him of not heeding a plea by a Pongola resident in 2019 asking for the department’s intervention on the N2.
But Mbalula clapped back and claimed that he was the most visible and engaging minister on social media.
He cited his response to Anele Mdoda’s complaint a few months ago where the radio personality alleged that potholes had taken out two of her tyres.
Mbalula at that time responded by asking Mdoda to send him a direct message but tweeps were also not impressed with him and said him of only responded to celebrities.
“I didn’t say I would attend to potholes. That was it. I respond to all sorts of complaints and insults. I am the most visible and accessible minister on Twitter. I report everything to the public,” he said.
Social Media is a very important platform, that’s why I’ve intentionally used it to share the work of the Departments I’ve worked at: we share Department of Transport here and I engage people, receive and respond to complaints from many people. I’ll continue to use it. pic.twitter.com/wfh92NkvW5
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) September 22, 2022
He said that he had always been transparent about his department’s programmes and that he will not allow criticism from social media to discourage his efforts.
The minister also shared a report of the Pongola crash which killed 21 people, 19 of whom were children.
He revealed that the truck driver had been driving in the oncoming lane for about 1.2km, putting other motorists’ lives in danger.
“The driver recklessly overtook vehicles and drove in the oncoming lane for approximately 1.2km. Vehicles had to swerve out of the way. The driver made no attempt to return to his lane.
“Driver error is the major factor in the cause of the route crash,” the report found.
Mbalula shared a video of the accident and said: “Reckless driving has reached unacceptable heights.”
Yesterday we released the Report; found that the driver of the articulated truck overtook multiple vehicles,where this action was prohibited by no-overtaking lines, in a dangerous & unlawful manner.
Driver overtook vehicles & drove on the oncoming lane for approximately 1.2KMs. pic.twitter.com/dR1ZRb8wRN
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) September 23, 2022
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Picture: Twitter/@MbalulaFikile
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
