South Africa’s Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said he would on Thursday join law enforcement officials as they oversee the anticipated traffic influx on the country’s busy roads in anticipation of the Easter holiday festivities this weekend.
“Over the next few days our national roads will, once again, carry millions of motorists. It is one of the greatest movement of people over a single long weekend, as people will be travelling to different destinations for the Easter holidays,” the minister said.
Mbalula said law enforcement would focus on safety precautions, roadworthiness of vehicle, drunk-driving and dangerous driving.
From January to February this year, some 1,823 people lost their lives on South African roads. This was higher than the 1,521 fatalities in the same period in 2021, he said.
Over the last five years, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo provinces accounted for the highest number of fatalities compared to other provinces, according to the minister.
Law enforcement agencies are expected to be out in full force as thousands of travellers headed to various destinations over the long Easter weekend, Mbalula added.
NM/jn/APA