Thirty-four people lost their lives in road crashes across the Western Cape between 22 and 28 December, with pedestrians making up almost half of the fatalities.
During the seven-day period, 27 crashes were recorded on the province’s roads. Fourteen of those who died were pedestrians, while cyclists and motorcyclists were also among the victims, highlighting the vulnerability of non-motorised road users during the festive season.
Law enforcement operations during the week led to more than 100 arrests, the majority linked to driving under the influence of alcohol. Several motorists were also arrested for possession of fraudulent documentation. Speeding remained a concern, with the highest speed recorded at 167 kilometres per hour in a 120 kilometre zone.
Authorities conducted close to 200 integrated roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed enforcement operations across the province. Thousands of vehicles were stopped and checked, resulting in fines for a range of traffic and vehicle-related offences.
Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku described the number of deaths recorded in one week as alarming.
“The loss of 34 lives in just one week shows how quickly unsafe behaviour can turn fatal,” he said.
Chief Director of Traffic Management Maxine Bezuidenhout noted that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists continue to feature prominently in crash statistics.
“Alcohol use and speeding remain recurring factors during periods of high traffic volumes,” she said.
Photo: Supplied/ Western Cape Mobility
