By Johnathan Paoli
South Africa’s roads remain perilous during the festive season, with official data showing that fatalities have hovered within a narrow but deadly range over the past three years, with a slight uptick recorded in the most recent reporting period.
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) consolidated festive season reports, a total of 1,560 people were killed on South African roads during the 2022/23 festive season, followed by a marginal decline to 1,552 fatalities in 2023/24.
That improvement proved short-lived.
During the 2024/25 festive period, covering 1 December 2024 to 11 January 2025, 1,589 people died in 1,286 fatal crashes, marking a 2.38% increase from the previous season and reversing the earlier stagnation.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy launched the 2025/26 festive-season road safety campaign in early December, revealing that more than 9,400 road fatalities have been recorded nationally this year, despite a year-on-year reduction of about
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insidepolitic.co.za
