Each day 25 South Africans die in road accidents - half of them involving minibuses - yet it took the deaths of 26 British tourists in the Lydenburg bus disaster on Monday to jolt the government into action.
This was the angry comment of Richard Benson, spokesman for Drive Alive, which has been pressing for the 8 000 vacant traffic officer positions to be filled to end the carnage.
Footage of the gruesome bus accident flooded the British media this week, questions were asked about the safety of tourists and Transport Minister Dullah Omar announced new stringent laws affecting buses.
These include an immediate speed reduction to 100km/h for buses, roadworthiness checks and compulsory safety belts. Benson said no such steps were taken when South Africans died in bus disasters such as the one which claimed 34 lives on the N3 between Villiers and Warden in the Free State on January 31.
"How much longer does government intend to wait before the 8 000 vacant traffic police jobs are filled and video cameras are provided in all traffic police cars, and how many people will die unnecessarily on our roads while we wait for government to act," he said.
If the cash-strapped Road Accident Fund were to spend R1 billion on filling these posts, it would save about R6 billion which it would have to pay on claims arising from accidents which would otherwise not occur due to the additional law enforcement, said Benson.
Simon Laxton, the general manager of tour operator Thomas Cook, said this week that the medical expenses of all passengers and Titus Dube, the driver, would be covered by insurance. Civil claims, which could run into millions, might also be brought by passengers.
A different situation exists for South African accident victims, with a maximum of R25 000 paid if a passenger is injured in a vehicle minibus accident. Few civil claims against minibus operators result in substantial amounts being awarded.