Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announces Covid-19 regulations on 30 September 2020 in Pretoria. Picture: Gallo Images/Sydney Seshibedi
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula released the festive season road statistics on Tuesday, saying the country saw “some of the most heart-wrenching crashes” over the past festive season.
Mbalula says a total of 1,685 fatalities were recorded during the 2021 festive period, which is a 14% increase compared to the previous year.
The minister cited the 12th January accident, which 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,” he said during a media briefing.
Mbalula indicated that a total of 34 major crashes accounting for 223 fatalities were recorded across South Africa.
“This is in contrast with the 13 major crashes responsible for 72 fatalities. Despite the challenges, we remained resolute and persevered through it all,” the minister said.
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He said jaywalking, speeding, slippery road surfaces, and poor visibility were among the main causes of road fatalities during the festive period.
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The minister said statistics showed fatalities increased in seven provinces, excluding Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The minister indicated he anticipates that claims against the Road Accident Fund (RAF) will increase to R518.7 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year.
“There is no better illustration of the need to maintain economic unity of the Republic than the reality that the long-term liabilities of the [RAF] are now government’s largest contingent liability,” he said.
Mbalula also said it was alarming that the country had more fatalities per crash this year compared to the previous periods.
“This resulted in high passenger fatalities this year compared to the previous period. Passenger fatalities constituted 38% in the current period compared to the previous 32%,” he revealed.
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“[While] pedestrian fatalities decreased from 41% previously to 31% in the current reporting period, driver fatalities increased from 27% to 28%,” the minister continued.
He added that most fatal crashes – which involved light motor vehicles, light delivery vehicles, minibuses, and trucks – took place between 5pm and 7pm on Fridays and Sundays.
In preliminary festive season road safety statistics released in late December, Mbalula said there was a 142% spike in crashes with multiple deaths on South Africa’s road since the month started, leading up to Christmas.
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