THE number of road accident deaths in KwaZulu-Natal were figuratively fast catching up with the number of people who die from HIV-Aids and are getting worse.

THE number of road accident deaths in KwaZulu-Natal were figuratively fast catching up with the number of people who die from HIV-Aids and are getting worse.

The warning came from transport community safety and liaison MEC Willies Mchunu.

He was addressing more than 1000 mourners who gathered at uMzuvukile Stadium in Nseleni in northern KwaZulu-Natal for the memorial service of seven people killed in a taxi accident last week.

Lucky Gumede, 26, Vusi Mkhwanazi, 30, Muzikayifani Zulu, 45, Sakhile Mngomezulu, 27, Dumisani Biyela, 43, and Siyabonga Mngomezulu, 24, and one unidentified passenger died when the taxi they were travelling in collided with a truck.

The minibus was travelling on the Empangeni road in a north-bound direction to Nseleni and the truck was from Nelspruit en route to Durban.

Mchunu urged the public to put an end to the "butchery" on the provinces roads by observing the rules of the road.

He said the country was faced with too many child-headed households because of "reckless drivers".

Mchunu expressed concern that 15 people died in various road crashes in the province over the past weekend.

"We all know that most accidents are caused by human error and can be prevented," he said.

"There is no amount of words sufficient to comfort the families during these difficult moments.

"But what is left for us is to ensure that together we can make a difference on our roads."

Mchunu said passengers need to be aware of safe and legal travel, and not make themselves vulnerable to abuse.

"If we could say never again to apartheid, we can come together again in this dark hour and put an end to butchery on our roads."

Provincial spokesperson for the department Bhekisisa Mncube said while no figures were available, the MEC used the analysis "figuratively" to warn reckless drivers.