The City of Joburg has committed itself to providing the necessary support to the families of victims who died following a head-on collision on the Golden Highway outside Eldorado Park.
The accident claimed the lives of 12 people, including three children from the same family.
The Speaker in the City of Joburg, Cllr Nonceba Molwele, met the families of the deceased children in Eldorado Park and the family of the taxi driver in Vlakfontein.
Cllr Molwele led a prayer session at the scene of the accident where debris from the accident were still visible, bearing testament to the horrific nature of the accident. She was joined by Members of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Cllr Lloyd Phillips and for Community Development, Cllr Margaret Arnolds, Cllr Matshidiso Mfikoe and JMPD and SAPS officers, who laid wreaths and lit candles at the scene of the accident.
She assured families that the City will hold continuous meetings with families on how to assist them.
“MMC Arnolds has been tasked by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Geoff Makhubo, to journey with the families during this difficult time. We also available as the leadership to assist," Cllr Molwele said.
“I cannot express how we felt when we heard about this tragedy. We have lost young souls. To the families we are saying, don't hope. We must preach the gospel of obeying the law. We ought to teach our community to obey the law. It is important that this becomes part of the civic education," she said.
She indicated that the City may organise a special prayer meeting together with churches and various faith groups to pray for the particular scene of the accident as many such accidents continue to occur.
Cllr Arnolds comforted the families and committed to keeping in contact with the family in the lead up to the funeral. “We can never claim to understand your pain. However, we as the City make ourselves available. The fact that the Speaker has taken time to meet with you means there is a government that is caring about its residents in Johannesburg," he said.
