The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has welcomed the release of the Mid-Term Review of the 2025 Festive Season Road Safety Statistics, delivered by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy.
In a statement issued following the announcement, SANTACO national spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala acknowledged the notable improvement in road safety performance during the first half of the festive period, highlighting a 20.9% reduction in fatal crashes and a 20.8% decrease in road fatalities.
“These figures demonstrate that coordinated law enforcement, sustained road safety education and strengthened stakeholder cooperation are beginning to yield positive results. However, the continued loss of life on our roads remains deeply concerning, particularly as the busiest travel days are still ahead,” said Phala.
She stressed that as the largest provider of public transport in the country, the taxi industry recognises its critical responsibility to safeguard commuters. Through its Hlokomela Road Safety Campaign, SANTACO continues to promote vehicle roadworthiness, disciplined driving, fatigue management and adherence to traffic regulations, while encouraging passengers to prioritise safe travel behaviour.
Announcing the statistics, Minister Creecy attributed the reductions to intensified policing, increased safety education and widespread public awareness initiatives. She revealed that 2,364 drivers were arrested for drunk driving, 236 for excessive speeding, 178 for reckless and negligent driving, while 53 pedestrians were arrested for jaywalking on freeways and 26 motorists were detained for attempting to bribe traffic officers.
Last year during the same period, the country recorded 545 fatal crashes resulting in 638 deaths, compared to 431 fatal crashes and 505 deaths recorded this year.
SANTACO affirmed its support for decisive enforcement operations aimed at removing unroadworthy vehicles and clamping down on permit violations, emphasising that road safety is a shared responsibility among all road users. The organisation pledged continued collaboration with government and road safety partners beyond the festive season to ensure long-term improvement in road safety outcomes.
“As the festive season continues, SANTACO urges taxi operators, drivers and commuters to exercise patience, responsibility and care on the roads. Every journey must end safely,” Phala concluded.
