12 Nov 2015

The Minister of Transport and Communication, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo says the total number of accidents which occurred between Palapye and Kgagodi in the past five years from 2010 untill 2014 were 103.

He said out of the 103 accidents, there were 17 fatal accidents which claimed 30 lives. He added that 137 road traffic victims had serious injuries while 104 sustained minor injuries. The Member of Parliament for Mmadinare, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila had wanted to know the number of accidents and road accident fatalities which occurred between Palapye and Kgagodi.

The MP also wanted to know when the ministry would construct a passing lane along the A1 Highway at the turn off to Tamashane and Kgagodi to reduce the number of  accidents at the intersection. The minister said after noticing the occurance of road accidents at the Kgagodi turn-off along the A1 road, the ministry had planned to expedite the construction of a passing lane during July–September 2015 at the location under the ongoing fog spray of the Dikabeya-Kgagodi road project.

“This was, however, not possible since such a variation to the contract would have introduced an inordinately high increase to the project cost. Nonetheless, my ministry was able to incorporate the construction of slip lanes at the junction under the fog spray of the Dikabeya–Kgagodi road project as a separate project,” he said.

Mr Mabeo also said the ministry was currently preparing tender documents for the second phase of the improvement of the junction,  and that it was expected to commence at the beginning of the next financial year 2016/17.   Ends