Frank Maponya

The Polokwane municipality believes the installation of traffic lights on the road to Meropa Casino will go a long way in saving the lives of many people.

The traffic lights have been erected at an accident-prone junction on the N1 freeway.

Before the the traffic lights were installed, the notorious road had claimed the lives of many people in motor accidents.

Among them was former ambassador to Indonesia, Norman Mashabane, and former director of communications in the provincial department of public works, Elvis Mavuso.

"We have not experienced any loss of life since the erection of the traffic lights at the junction leading to Meropa from the N1," said Simon Mokoatedi, spokesman for the municipality.

He said though there might have been a few accidents at the junction, there had not been any loss of life since the traffic lights were installed.

Mokoatedi asked motorists using the N1 freeway to reduce speed when approaching the traffic lights.

"For the safety of motorists and other road-users, it is advisable to reduce speed when approaching the traffic lights," he said.

According to Mokoatedi, the traffic lights were erected two weeks after Mashabane's death, following concerns about the number of serious accidents at the junction.

Mashabane died after the car in which he and his son were travelling ploughed into a truck crossing to the other side of the road.