All three of these accidents and resulting fatalities occurred in the North West alone, making the Free State and Northern Cape the only provinces in the country to record zero accidents during this period. Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, released the Easter road figures on Friday, revealing there were a total of 28 road deaths from 26 accidents. Mbalula goes on to say that it is futile to compare the figures to the 2019 ones, seeing as the country was under lockdown this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, cancelling holiday plans, Easter pilgrimages and church events that usually account for most of the traffic volumes during this period. The lockdown resulted in a 70% reduction in vehicles on South Africa’s roads.

While Mbalula says it’s futile to make comparisons and draw conclusions, he did note some glaring differences. Eleven people were arrested for drunken driving during Easter 2020 as opposed to 807 in 2019. This is also attributed greatly by the unpopular ban on the sale of alcohol during lockdown. One person was caught for speeding in 2020 in contrast to 192 in 2019.  

OFM previously reported that officials from the Free State Police Roads and Transport Department vowed to be out in full force over the quiet Easter period to ensure lockdown regulations are adhered to. This has appeared to yield results with the Free State joining the Northern Cape as the only two provinces that had zero accidents during this period.

MEC Sam Mashinini cautioned at the time that complacency will reverse all the gains made to curb the outbreak and urged all residents to abide by the regulations.

OFM News