Full marks for reed dance buses
City Mayor and Deputy Mayor participate in bus inspections
TEN buses procured by the City of uMhlathuze to transport hundreds of local maidens to the annual Reed Dance this Saturday, all passed with flying colours on Thursday.
City Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo and City Deputy Mayor Silondile Mkhize looked on as the buses underwent safety inspections at the Richards Bay Vehicle Test Centre.
Centre co-owner Neville Tarin on Thursday afternoon said the buses are in good condition and had already completed and passed a second round of thorough testing to confirm they are ready to hit the road.
More than 1 000 maidens from city townships and traditional areas will be transported to the annual traditional event this year, hosted at the King Goodwill Zwelithini’s eNyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma.
Mayor Mhlongo said the city is doing everything in its power to avoid a repeat of previous tragic bus accidents to and from the event, such as the 2013 crash on the R66 near Melmoth that killed nine maidens and two minders, and injured scores of others.
‘We must ensure the safety of our maidens as they travel to and from Nongoma.
‘We are working with our traffic police and the Provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate to ensure that all buses are roadworthy and comply with every road requirement.
‘We are also working with all bus companies to provide us with driver profiles.
‘Moreover, our police will escort our buses from uMhlathuze to Nongoma and fetch them on Sunday after the ceremony.
‘We want to make sure that there will be no mistake of speeding or negligent driving.
‘We do not want to see another tragedy such as the one in Ndudulu.’
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