Transport Minister Mbalula says they recorded 7% decline on road fatalities and 10% on fatal crashes this year

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Photo: RTMC

All thanks to hard lockdown and restricted movements on the road during the festive season Roads and Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said that the officials saw volumes on the road declining from 1 556 704 the previous year, to 1 419 782 this year.

He was uttering these words during a joined media briefing with the Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC) earlier today.

This also saw a 7% decline in fatalities and 10.3% decline in fatal crashes, year-on-year with a total number of 1 448 fatalities from 1 210 fatal crashes being recorded.

“We are encouraged that these reductions make a positive contribution towards the realisation of our target of reducing fatalities on our roads. Mpumalanga is the only Province that recorded an increase in fatalities” said Minister Mbalula.

The breakdown of fatalities per Province is as follows:
• Western Cape recorded a decline of 15.9%, with 132 fatalities compared to 157 in 2019/2020.
• KwaZulu Natal recorded a decline of 14%, with 289 fatalities compared to 336 in 2019/20.
• Limpopo recorded a decline of 8.3%. with 188 fatalities compared to 205 in 2019/2020.
• Northern Cape recorded a decline of 7.7%, with 36 fatalities compared to 39 in 2019/2020.
• Gauteng recorded a decline of 7.2%, with 231 fatalities compared to 249 in 2019/20.
• North West recorded a decline of 2.0%, with 99 fatalities comp red to 101 in 2019/2020.
• Eastern Cape recorded a decline of 1.3%, with 228 fatalities compared to 231 in 2019/20.
• Free State recoded a decline of 0.9%, with 107 fatalities compared to 108 in 2019/20.
• Mpumalanga recorded an increase of 4.4%, with 141 fatalities compared to 135 in 2019/2020.

The following roads accounted for the highest number of crashes and fatalities:
1. N3 near Harrismith, KwaZulu-Natal
2. N2 near Idutywa, Eastern Cape
3. N1 near Modimolle, Limpopo
4. R37 Mecklenburg, Limpopo
5. N12 near Potchefstroom, North-West