KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma (left) and Transport Minister Barbara Creecy will be busy conducting roadblocks this festive season. I Supplied
Durban — As the country experiences deadly road crashes, KwaZulu-Natal has recorded a 2% drop so far in road fatalities compared to last year.
Giving an update to the Daily News on the progress of the festive season road plan ahead of Christmas and New Year’s Day anticipated peak, MEC Siboniso Duma expressed his optimism that the provincial government was still in line with an overall 5% target he set for the duration of the festive season.
Duma announced that from December 1 until Sunday, the provincial road fatalities stood at 132, a drop by three from 135 deaths which were recorded for the same period last year.
“We wish to express our appreciation to motorists who have heeded our call and are adhering to our road safety measures,” he said.
“Over the past weekend, we noted maximum discipline by motorists on our roads. This resulted in few reports of accidents.
“In particular, we request all our road users to maintain this maximum discipline as we are approaching Christmas Day and New Year.
“In terms of our statistics, we have recorded a 2% decrease in the number of fatalities. In 2023, between 1 December and 20 December, we recorded 135 fatalities. During 2024, between the same period, we recorded 132 fatalities.”
Duma said this number should not be celebrated, as lives have been lost. He believes that the provincial road safety measures of the dedicated team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) were bearing fruit.
The speed enforcement operations have resulted in the arrest of a motorist who clocked 124km/h in an 80km/h zone. The driver was arrested along the N3 and granted bail of R2 000 after appearing in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court in KZN.
Duma said his department will not tolerate reckless driving – it is either people comply or they go to prison – adding that law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 20 drivers on various national, provincial and district roads. Duma said most of them were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
“I have given the RTI team the order to intensify the multidisciplinary roadblocks and have no mercy. They will be focusing on arresting those driving under the influence of alcohol, roadworthiness and overloading, detection of stolen vehicles as well as illegal firearms and drugs,” concluded the MEC.
On Sunday, the Eastern Cape recorded 12 deaths with seven in Limpopo. There were no fatalities reported at the time of going to print in KZN.
During the launch of the festive season road plan earlier this month, Duma announced the deployment of close to 3000 police officers supported by 808 vehicles.
He also announced the building of a satellite traffic police station at Van Reenen’s Pass on the border of the Free State and the province where most accidents take place.
Last year, KwaZulu-Natal recorded 206 crashes with 250 fatalities, which was a 4% increase from the previous year. KZN was the second-biggest contributor to road fatalities after Gauteng.
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