Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has revealed that preliminary data shows a 5.3% year-on-year increase in road-related fatalities and a 4.2% year-on-year increase in road crashes that involved fatalities over the 2024/25 festive season nationwide, with 1 502 deaths from 1 234 crashes.

During a media briefing on January 20, she noted that six provinces reported increases in the number of fatalities, namely KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and North West.

The Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State recorded increases of 70, 54 and 21 fatalities, respectively, year-on-year.

"This is most regrettable because it reverses the incremental strides made in recent years," she said.

Gauteng, the Western Cape and Mpumalanga recorded decreases of 76, 23 and 15 fatalities, respectively.

Meanwhile, Creecy also noted that 41% of all road fatalities over the period were pedestrian fatalities.

She explained that the highest percentage of pedestrian fatalities took place in the major urban centres of Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Gauteng had the highest pedestrian fatality rate at 63%, followed by the Western Cape at 53% and KwaZulu-Natal at 44%.

The Minister also noted that 87% of crashes occurred because of human error, such as hit and runs, speeding and drunk driving.

"All of us have to change our behaviour on the roads. The number of people who died on our roads this festive season has increased because people continue to behave badly."

Creecy revealed that 711 000 traffic fines were issued for various offenses, including 23 000 fines issued to drivers not wearing seatbelts and 16 000 fines to drivers for using their cell phones while driving.

Creecy also noted that 16 000 vehicles were found to be unroadworthy, with 8 900 vehicles impounded in areas where impoundment facilities were available.

Additionally, 9 500 motorists were arrested, including 3 840 for drunk driving, while 414 drivers were arrested for driving at high speeds. The transport minister pointed out that five high speed drivers were caught driving above 200 km/h.

"There must be consequences for drivers who break the law with wanton disregard for the lives of others, whether it is for speeding, drunk driving or any other offense that warrants arrest."

Creecy reiterated the aims of the Department of Transport's (DoT's) Festive Season Road Safety Campaign that was launched on December 1 under the theme 'Every Day without a Road Death - South Africa 2024.'

"At the launch of the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign on December 1, we said we were aiming to change driver behaviour, enhance our law enforcement actions and work together with everyone in the broader ecosystem to reduce fatalities and crashes," said Creecy.

The campaign was based on four pillars, namely responsible driving, pedestrian safety, enforcement and education, and collaboration among all stakeholders.

The Minister noted that stringent monitoring was put in place on 20 priority routes, alongside patrolling and law enforcement interventions.

Additionally, the DoT and the Road Traffic Management Corporation launched a communications campaign that included targeted messaging on platforms such as radio and social media.

Creecy explained that traffic law enforcement officers conducted more than 997 road blocks throughout the country over the festive season.

She said the road blocks were joint operations between local, provincial and national traffic police authorities, the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies, such as the Border Management Authority and the Cross Border Traffic Authority.

Creecy noted that provinces were conducting a detailed analysis of their respective statistics in order to create a plan moving forward. Respective parties were expected to convene on January 31.

She said the department would continue, together with the South African National Roads Agency Limited, to invest in designing and engineering safer road...