Fikile Mbalula released the festive road fatality statistics, 18/1/2022 – Photo: Fikile Mbalula / Twitter
Fikile Mbalula released the festive road fatality statistics, 18/1/2022 – Photo: Fikile Mbalula / Twitter
When it comes to motoring fatalities, the situation isn’t getting any better in South Africa. In fact, following the recent carnage that took place over the festive season, it’s fair to say the issue is escalating on some of our deadliest roads.
Fikile Mbalula, the Transport Minister, has released the latest gruesome statistics concerning road fatalities in December and January, covering the Christmas holidays. The numbers aren’t for the faint hearted.
A total of 1 685 people died in traffic incidents during the 2021/22 festive period. That’s up by 14% on the previous year. The ghastly data also shows us which provinces can be classed as the ‘deadliest’ for Mzansi’s motorists:
Mbalula, who also appeared crestfallen by the numbers during a briefing on Tuesday, admitted that the authorities need to rapidly work out what is behind this steep rise in road fatalities.
According to the minister, the fatalities-per-crash ratio has also spiked – which means ‘Mr. Fix’ has a lot of work to do, in order to live up to his self-given nickname.
“It is disturbing to note that the Northern Cape recorded the highest increase of 97%, moving from 33 fatalities in the previous period to 65 in this period. The Western Cape equally recorded a massive 55.6% increase in the percentage of fatalities moving from 133 fatalities the previous period to 207 in this period.”
“We need to get to the root cause of this drastic increase and address it in a decisive manner. We have had more fatalities per crash this year compared to the previous periods. This resulted in high passenger fatalities this year, which constituted 38% in the current period compared to the previous 32%.”
Fikile Mbalula