Why should our elder citizens - pensioners - be vulnerable to death and fatal accidents such as yesterday's tragedy that claimed 15 lives in eMsinga, KwaZulu-Natal?

Rev. Dr. Molefe Tsele, General Secretary of the SACC, in a statement issued today said, "As the Council of Churches we have to express sadness about these tragic deaths as they are becoming a common feature in our lives. We believe a New South Africa has a duty to ensure that our pensioners are not exposed to these unnecessary fatal accidents".

"We can avoid them; we are endowed with resources, and the question must be: why is officialdom so lax and all the time wanting to learn from hind sight?"

In the same statement, Dr Tsele also expressed sadness at the deaths of hawkers and any other members of the public who were affected by the accident.

"The state of our roads must be looked at to ensure that they are safe to use, so that we may preserve lives and avoid such accidents. We cannot afford leadership excuses. We have to be proactive and do what the constitution demands of us to protect all lives", said Tsele.

"We also need to devise a method that will ensure that the drawing of pension money no longer becomes a hazardous enterprise. We have the technology. We must use it to ensure that elder citizens no longer have to travel long distances to receive their pensions".

Issued on behalf of the South African Council of Churches by
Rev Joe Mdhlela
Director: Communication Unit
Contact: 083 641 1281