Limpopo MEC says liquor outlet owners should arrange transport to ferry drunk patrons to their respective destinations

LIMPOPO transport and community safety MEC, Violet Matthye, has directed that liquor outlet owners stop selling alcohol to unaccompanied drunk patrons or arrange transport to ferry them to their destinations.

The suggestion comes after a realisation of a surge in accidents involving pedestrians. Of the 25 accidents involving pedestrians recorded since the launch of the safer festive season campaign, 21 resulted in fatalities.

A significant number of pedestrian fatalities happened along the N1 near Mookgophong. Most of the accidents involved farmworkers returning from liquor outlets.

Matthye said it was troubling that most of the accidents happened after midnight and the causes were drunkenness, jaywalking and failure to wear visible clothing.

“Amongst the immediate solutions should be that liquor outlets owners must avoid selling liquor to unaccompanied pedestrians. Where such is done, such owners should arrange transport to ferry drunk patrons to their respective destinations,” Matthye said.

Matthye said she will engage municipalities and department of public works, roads and infrastructure to improve road markings and create more speed bumps.

She appealed to pedestrians and motorists to be more vigilant and avoid further casualties.