Over 1,400 killed on SA roads during festive season – Creecy

Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy, says 1,427 people lost their lives on South Africa’s roads during the recent festive season.

Briefing the media today on preliminary outcomes of the festive season road safety campaign, Creecy said road crashes and fatalities declined by 5% compared to 2024 figures.

However she noted that the 2025 festive period recorded 255 more deaths than the 1,172 fatalities reported the previous year.

Four provinces — Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape — recorded increases in road deaths, with more than 40% of crashes occurring between 15 and 28 December.

She added that most fatal crashes occurred at night, involving pedestrians, hit-and-run incidents, single-vehicle overturns and head-on collisions. The minister commended road safety efforts in the Eastern Cape and Free State, where fewer fatalities were recorded.

Drunk driving and enforcement

Creecy also revealed that more than 8,000 motorists were arrested for drunk driving, after law enforcement officers stopped and checked over 1.8 million vehicles nationwide.

More than 450,000 traffic fines were issued, while over 500 motorists were arrested for excessive speeding.

“A total of 173 000 drivers for being under the influence of alcohol 8561 of these drivers tested positive and were arrested. This represents a 144% increase in the number of arrests for drunken driving since the previous year. The highest alcohol reading was in Kwa-Zulu Natal where a motorist recorded breath alcohol content 14 times over the legal limit,” Creecy said.

She also disclosed that 89 motorists were arrested for attempting to bribe officers at roadblocks. The department plans to strengthen enforcement, especially over weekends and public holidays.

Pedestrian safety concerns

Gauteng Transport MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has raised concerns about pedestrians walking on highways, saying they are most at risk of being struck by vehicles.

The MEC strongly warned pedestrians against crossing or walking alone along highways, noting that many fatal incidents involve people moving between informal settlements and nearby taverns, often while intoxicated.

She also cautioned motorists against giving money to beggars on the roads, saying this encourages people to occupy dangerously busy highways.

Diale-Tlabela said the province will intensify public education campaigns, calling on the media and liquor traders to partner with government on road safety.

Taxi industry intervention

The South African National Taxi Council president, Abner Tsebe, has announced plans to introduce compulsory in-vehicle breathalysers, for taxis, a system that would prevent vehicles from starting if alcohol is detected.

Tsebe said before SANTACO’s Tlhokomela Road Safety Campaign, the taxi industry accounted for nearly 48% of peak-period road crashes.

He says SANTACO, in partnership with other stakeholders, plans to intensify road safety efforts, with a particular focus on long-distance taxi routes, major ranks and national roads.

Alongside enforcing relief drivers on long-distance routes, SANTACO plans to install breathalysers and in-vehicle cameras to strengthen monitoring and fleet management.

He says the taxi industry must embrace advanced technology to strengthen safety surveillance and fleet management.

Tsebe also called for road safety interventions to better integrate public and private healthcare partners.

A total of 11 418 fatalities were recorded from 9 674 crashes in 2025 compared to 12 581 fatalities from 10 633 crashes in 2021. Furthermore the 2025 crashes decreased by 6.4 percent when compared to 2024 and fatalities decreased by six-point two (6.2) percent in the same period pic.twitter.com/UAN5sGrqUW

— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) January 15, 2026

Written by: Odirile Rabalao