Madam Speaker, the community of Bushbuckridge has in the past week come under a dark cloud when 25 hard-working people lost their lives. The ANC, together with its alliance partners, conveys its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
We also want to applaud the timeous attention that Mayor Milton Morema and his dedicated councillors, MEC Jackson Mthembu and the President of the ANC, Comrade Jacob Zuma, paid to the injured and the bereaved family members.
This solidarity is welcomed by the people of Bushbuckridge during this difficult time. The community is holding a memorial service today and a mass funeral service is planned for Saturday.
As we have entered the wet season, we as the ANC would like to request all drivers on our roads to behave responsibly and drive slowly during wet conditions. We further want to warn drivers to observe road signs and rules as we approach the Christmas festive period.
We call upon all those who have financial resources to assist the bereaved as all of the deceased are the poorest of the poor. A trust account for this purpose has been opened at FNB, Hazyview, account number 62204137807. No matter how small your contributions are, they will have a huge impact in alleviating the financial burden experienced by these families. May they have strength to traverse this difficult time. I thank you. [Applause.]