1,400 people killed on South African roads over festive season, says Chikunga

Lerato Mbhiza

Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said while addressing the media on Wednesday that although 1 400 people were killed on South African roads over the festive season, the numbers reflect a 1.7% drop compared to the previous year.

Chikunga said most provinces, with the exception of Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, have  low numbers of fatalities.

“During the previous festive season, we had recorded 1,212 fatal crashes and then people who died, we recorded 1,427 and last year we had actually recorded 1,452 and that therefore gives us a decrease of 1.7%.”

She added the festive season period was marked by heavy rainfall and storms, creating challenges  for road users.

She said 40.9% of those who died were pedestrians, while passengers accounted for 33.6%, drivers 24.6% and cyclists 0.8%. 

“It will be noted very sadly that the majority of those who died were between the ages of