As the long Easter weekend comes to a close, South African authorities are stepping up their efforts to enhance road safety, amid a concerning surge in road accidents and fatalities across the country. The Easter period, known for increased travel as families engage in religious gatherings, traditional ceremonies, and holiday getaways, often coincides with an alarming rise in road incidents, predominantly linked to alcohol abuse.
In Mpumalanga, a tragic toll of at least 18 lives was recorded due to multiple road crashes from 17 to 19 April. The Nkangala District alone bore the brunt of this devastation, with significant accidents marking the weekend. One of the most severe incidents occurred on Thursday afternoon, where six individuals lost their lives in a head-on collision on the N4 toll road between Machadodorp and Belfast. Five victims died at the scene, while a sixth succumbed to injuries later in hospital.
In another harrowing incident on the same route near Middelburg, two people were killed and 13 others were injured after a mini-bus taxi overturned, reportedly due to the driver’s loss of control. Furthermore, three additional lives were lost on the R35 between Bethal and Middelburg in a collision involving a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) and an articulated truck.
Mpumalanga’s MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, expressed deep concern over the preventable nature of many of these fatal crashes. “We are pleading with every driver to ensure that they use the road cautiously. People must stop overtaking dangerously and driving with excessive speed so that they can safely reach their destinations,” Macie urged in a statement. He emphasised that prioritising safety for oneself and others could drastically reduce road fatalities.
Furthermore, MEC Macie urged public transport operators to guarantee their vehicles are roadworthy and recommended regular breaks during long drives, suggesting a pause every two hours or after every 200 kilometres.
The intensified enforcement efforts in Mpumalanga have yielded notable results. Traffic officers conducted checks on over 13,500 vehicles, leading to more than 5,000 vehicles passing through weighbridges and over 2,700 summonses issued for various violations. A staggering 100 motorists were arrested specifically for drunk driving, prompting Macie to commend law enforcement for their proactive stance. He reiterated the need for continuous vigilance in enforcing the law against reckless drivers.
In the Eastern Cape, road safety operations were equally effective, resulting in approximately 500 arrests related to drunk driving throughout the Easter weekend. Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose indicated that the focus on combating drunk driving has produced encouraging outcomes, citing a significant decrease in both crashes and fatalities alongside an increase in the number of drunk driving arrests. Binqose urged drivers to remain responsible, especially on busy routes like the N2 and R61, where traffic volumes continue to surge.
In a separate incident in Limpopo, two suspects were apprehended in Polokwane for attempting to bribe National Traffic Police officers to evade drunk driving charges, allegedly offering R600 and R100, respectively.