DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal was one of two provinces that recorded declines in festive season road fatalities.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the other province was the Eastern Cape.
Mbalula was speaking at Grasmere Toll Plaza when releasing 2021 festive season fatality statistics.
Mbalula said their festive season campaign statistics revealed that road fatalities increased in seven provinces and declined in two provinces.
“The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are the only provinces that recorded a decline in fatalities while the Northern Cape and Western Cape recorded the highest percentage increases in fatalities,” Mbalula said.
He said a total of 1 685 fatalities were recorded over the festive season, which was a 14% increase on the previous period.
The Eastern Cape recorded the largest decline in fatalities with a reduction of 7.9% or 210 fatalities compared to the same period last year, when it had 228 fatalities, Mbalula said.
“Similarly, KwaZulu-Natal recorded a significant 6.5% decline in fatalities. The province recorded 275 fatalities as compared to 294 in the same period last year. Keep up the good work and remain shining stars,” Mbalula said.
When Mbalula released the provisional festive season statistics on December 22, 2021, he said statistics showed that fatalities increased in five provinces with the exception of KZN, the Free State, Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
KZN had recorded a 24.3% decrease in fatalities from 173 in 2020 to 131 over the same period.
Moreover, the worst drunk driver was caught on the N2 north at Winklespruit in KZN with a breath alcohol reading of 1.95mg per 1 000ml of breath. The legal breath alcohol limit is less than 0.24mg in 1 000ml of breath.
Mbalula said it was disturbing to note that the Northern Cape recorded the highest increase of 97%, moving from 33 fatalities in the previous period to 65 in that period.
Mbalula said over the festive season they saw some of the most heart-wrenching crashes claiming many lives in a single crash.
Over this past festive season, we saw some of the most heart-wrenching crashes claiming many lives in a single crash.
On January 12, a head-on collision claimed 17 lives and injured eight on the N1 near Mookgophong, Limpopo. The bus driver lost his life along with the passengers due to the bus catching fire that entrapped them inside immediately after impact.
In another crash in Mpumalanga, which claimed the life of eMalahleni Municipality mayor, three people died. We have seen a total of 34 major crashes, accounting for 223 fatalities. This is in contrast with the 13 major crashes responsible for 72 fatalities.
Mbalula added that during their festive season campaign, traffic law enforcement officers conducted 651 roadblocks throughout the country and they issued 264 690 fines for various traffic offences. Of particular interest is that 21 431 of these fines were for drivers who failed to wear seatbelts while 22 766 were for people who were driving without licences.
A total of 4 251 unroadworthy vehicles were discontinued while 4 073 vehicles were impounded. To clamp down on drunk driving, speed and other moving violations, the officers arrested 6 169 motorists and 1 586 of these were for drunk driving.