28 people killed in road crashes over Easter weekend

Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula says 26 fatal crashes were recorded - 38% of them involved pedestrians. 

There were five crashes in KZN, resulting in the deaths of six people. One person was arrested for speeding and 11 for drunk driving.

Mbalula released the national Easter Weekend Traffic Statistics in Johannesburg on Friday. 

"Most of the crashes involved pedestrians and single vehicles overturned with a contribution of 38% and 19% respectively. This is in contrast with the 128 recorded over the same period in 2019 claiming 162 lives."

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South Africans, this year, had to celebrate Easter in their own homes - due to the coronavirus lockdown. 

Mbalula's described the decrease in the number of deadly road incidents as extraordinary. 

"Drivers constituted 43% fatalities, followed by pedestrians at 31% and passengers at 27%. The 2020 Ester period was extraordinary as there was limited movement." 

No road crashes were reported in the Free State and Northern Cape.

He says over 180 vehicles were ordered to turnaround at Easter roadblocks - because they had no business being on the road during the lockdown. 

"Authorities had to enforce the lockdown regulations and directions. 184 vehicles were stopped and ordered to return home for travelling in contravention to lockdown regulations."

He says to compare this period to Easter last year would be a futile exercise, as the conditions aren't the same. 

He says over the long weekend, more than 100 000 vehicles stopped and checked at roadblocks. 

The number of vehicles impounded was 236 with 171 vehicles discontinued due to them being unroadworthy.

He added over the same period in 2019 the number of arrests for violation of road traffic laws was 1 343, and the number of vehicles impounded was 1 555.