Eastern Cape Premier, Phumulo Masualle, has declared two major accidents this weekend which claimed 46 lives, provincial disasters.
Thirty-six people were killed when a bus crashed on the R408 gravel road between Butterworth and Willowvale on Saturday.
Ten people were killed in a taxi accident on the R61 between Cradock and Graaff Reinet - also on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday Masualle said after consultation with key members of his Executive Committee it was agreed that the accidents should be declared provincial disasters.
He said this means that under provincial legislation, emergency humanitarian assistance would be provided to stricken families.
Memorial services for the victims of the two accidents will be held on Thursday and Friday
Meanwhile, Parliamen'ts Portfolio Committee on Transport saids the rate at which road accidents and related fatalities are happening is alarmingly high and should not be tolerated.
Committee chairperson, Dikeledi Magadzi, said "the country should move into the culture of passenger safety by ensuring that vehicles on the road and the drivers are fit for the purpose. It is unfortunate that road fatalities continue to rob families of breadwinners and relatives in the manner we saw over the weekend."
Magadzi said "the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and all other relevant law enforcement agencies should up their game and not mostly focus on the festive season."
