UPDATE: KZN leads in road deaths

KZN is again at the forefront of road deaths following the long weekend, with the transport department announcing 49 people died in accidents between Friday and Monday.

A total of 237 people lost their lives in crashes across the country.

Zululand smashes accounted for at least four of the deaths in the province, two small children being among the victims.

On average, 59 people died every day this weekend.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters attributed the alarming figure to ‘bad attitudes and irresponsible choices’ by road users.

‘This past long weekend was one of the saddest moments in the history of our country with many lives lost on our roads and scores more injured,’ she said.

‘Major crashes were mainly caused by minibuses and freight transport.’

Peters said she was most disturbed by four particular collisions that caused 15 deaths in Randfontein, five deaths in George, nine deaths in a minibus crash in Mokopane, Limpopo and a person dying in a collision between four cars on the N2 between East London and Mooiplaas in the Eastern Cape.

‘These collisions claimed about 30 lives in total. Most worrying are the causes of these crashes, which include drunk driving, overtaking when it is unsafe and speeding,’ said Peters.

Second after KZN, Gauteng recorded 45 deaths while Limpopo crashes claimed 39.