This year, 1,427 fatalities were recorded from 1,172 crashes, transport minister Barbara Creecy said during the announcement of the 2025/2026 festive season road safety report. It’s a 5% reduction in both fatalities and crashes, compared with the same period in the previous year. 

Five provinces recorded reductions in fatalities, while Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the Northern and Western Cape saw increases. “There was a spike in crashes and fatalities between 15 and 28 December, contributing to more than 40% of the season’s total,” said Creecy, joined by her deputy, Mkhuleko Hlengwa.

“This confirms that festive season crashes increase once travellers have reached their destinations and are engaging in festivities, rather than during peak travel periods.”

Most incidents occurred over weekends between 19:00 and 21:00, and again between midnight and 01:00. They included collisions with pedestrians, hit-and-run incidents, single-vehicle overturns, and head-on collisions.

The department said it’s been observing a downward trend in annual statistics for road fatalities and crashes. However, Creecy said the number of people dying on the country’s roads is still too high, and the loss of life is avoidable.

‘Deaths caused by road accidents are a reason for national shame’

The minister said human behaviour and reckless driving are the major contributors to road trauma. “The number of deaths caused by road accidents is a reason for national shame.

“All of those who have passed on over the last year, men, women, and children, were loved and cherished during their lives and today are sorely missed by their families and friends.

“Death on our roads is not like old age. There is nothing inevitable or unavoidable about it. It’s time to look at strengthening the country’s road and driving policies.”

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