PRESS STATEMENT NO 7 OF 2014

 

BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER

 

DR B.S.S.DLAMINI

 

ON THE ACCIDENT ON THE MALAGWANE HILL OF 29 APRIL 2014

 

THE CABINET OFFICES

 

WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL 2014

 

 

It was a great shock to us all when we learned of the dreadful accident that took place on the Malagwane Hill outside Mbabane yesterday evening.   The sheer devastation caused by the vehicle pile-up and subsequent fires presented a terrifying picture of destruction on an almost unprecedented scale on our roads.

 

We are very sorry to say that two people lost their lives and 35 people were injured of whom five are in a critical condition. In all, 23 vehicles were written off or seriously damaged. Whilst these figures are somewhat less than what was originally reported in the media, that is no consolation for those bereaved. And just one death on our roads is one too many.

 

I am, therefore, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, expressing our deepest condolences to the families of those who died in the accident and our very best wishes, for a full and speedy recovery, to those who were injured in the numerous crashes.

 

I take this opportunity to thank all those individuals who assisted victims of the accident, and to express our appreciation for the efforts of the Health, Police and Fire emergency services, especially the staff of the Mbabane Government Hospital, the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital and the private hospitals for the emergency treatment given to the injured.

 

I do hasten to add that my issuing a press statement of sympathy on this occasion does not belittle in any way other road accidents in which the mortality figures were worse. But what, I believe, has come across so clearly from the scenes of the accident is how an incident on such a scale can occur and the potential it carries to take many lives and do extensive damage to property.

 

Let me assure the general public that there will be a full investigation of the circumstances of the accident.

 

Thank you.