South Africa town to sacrifice animals in bid to end road carnage

JOHANNESBURG - A South African community living alongside a deadly road aims to end the carnage by performing a ceremony to appease their ancestors, including spilling the blood of animals on the tarmac, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.

The Moloto Road, which runs from Pretoria into neighbouring Mpumalanga province, has witnessed several horrific smashes in recent months.

In October, a minibus taxi veered out of control, killing 12 passengers, while in November, 15 people were killed in separate incidents involving bigger public buses, the Sowetan newspaper reported.

The affected stretch of road runs through the ancestral lands of the Moletji community, whose leader Kgosi (chief) Kgabo Moloto III has announced plans for a night vigil on the road in the New Year.

After the vigil, which would be attended by community members and transport industry representatives, animals would be slaughtered in a ritual performed to appease the ancestors, the Sowetan quoted the chief as saying.

Many Africans believe their ancestors have power over their fate and perform offerings to try to keep them appeased.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest rate of road fatalities.

More than 14,000 people are killed on the roads each year, many during Christmas, when large numbers of South Africans hit the road to spend the holidays by the beach and drink-driving is rife.

Between Dec 1 and 26, despite government’s Arrive Alive road safety campaign, 840 people were killed on the roads, according to the transport department.