A total of 225 people were killed in 185 accidents on South Africa’s roads over the recent four-day Easter long weekend.
ICYMI: Massive jump in Easter weekend road deaths: The sad numbers
A total of 225 people were killed in 185 accidents on South Africa’s roads over the recent four-day Easter long weekend.
A total of 225 people were killed in 185 accidents on South Africa’s roads over the recent four-day Easter long weekend.
A total of 225 people were killed in 185 accidents on South Africa’s roads over the recent four-day Easter long weekend.
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That represented a worrying 40% increase on the 161 deaths recorded over the same period last year.
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Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said there had been an increase in fatalities in all nine provinces, except for Mpumalanga, Western Cape and the North West.
“We congratulate these provinces for work well done,” she said.
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Nearly half of those killed (44.4%) were pedestrians, while 27.7% were passengers, drivers 25.6%, and cyclists 1.3%.
Easter road death numbers ‘horrific’
“Our efforts to stem the tide of fatalities on our roads will not falter. We have taken strides that have brought us closer to classifying traffic policing as an essential service of a 7-day, 24-hour job across the country, a move which will transform the face of traffic law enforcement and ensure sustained visibility on the roads,” Chikunga said.
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The Automobile Association (AA) described the rise in road deaths as “horrific”, saying it pointed to a lack of proper road safety intervention and implementation by the government and the agencies responsible.
