More die on SA roads this festive season

Minister Dipuo Peters says the figure reflects a 5% national increase from the 2015 / 2016 stats - while decreasing in four provinces.

"It is worth mentioning that the most problematic days of the week in terms of road fatalities and crashes remained our weekends. However, our intensified law enforcement saw stabilization and reduction over weekdays. This is due to extraordinary long weekends of the festive season," she said.

KZN, Gauteng, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape accounted for 61% of total fatalities.

"I take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones during this period. And our well-wishes to all those who are still recuperating at hospitals and their respective homes," she said.

Peters says KZN was among five provinces where the number of fatalities increased on the roads.