Eastern Cape roads have become scenes of carnage, with 202 people losing their lives in less than a month during the festive season.
According to a report this week by the Eastern Cape MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha, these shocking incidents occurred between 1 December and 28 December 2024.
The official death toll marks a staggering increase, with fatalities rising from 97 during the same period in 2023.
As expected, high-risk routes such as the N2 (with more than 42 fatalities) and the R61 (with more than 21 fatalities) have again proven to be the deadliest. The single deadliest accident took place on the N9 near Graaff-Reinet, where 14 people lost their lives.
Just over two weeks ago, the Democratic Alliance (DA) called on the provincial government to act urgently to protect the lives of road users. Yet without significant intervention, the festive season has become a time of heartbreak and sorrow for many families.
This tragedy is a damning indictment of the Eastern Cape government, which appears incapable of enforcing road safety regulations.
Traffic on our roads is expected to increase significantly as holidaymakers return home.
If the provincial government is serious about ending the mayhem on our roads, it must implement intensified, round-the-clock traffic law enforcement, with a specific focus on high-risk routes. Strict penalties must be enforced for road users who fail to adhere to the rules. Targeted roadblocks and sobriety checks must become non-negotiable.
The DA also calls for the installation of Average Speed Over Distance (ASOD) cameras on stretches of the N2, where accidents and fatalities are prevalent. These cameras are already being used effectively in the DA-governed Western Cape and could help curb fatalities in 2025.
Despite the difficult working conditions and staffing shortages, we commend the diligent traffic officers across the province, many of whom work 12-hour shifts, day and night. To assist them in keeping our roads safe, we implore every motorist, pedestrian, and passenger to prioritise safety by adhering to all traffic laws.
Finally, the DA would like to express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. The loss of even one life on our roads is one too many.
We will continue to fight for improved law enforcement on our provincial roads. The people of the Eastern Cape deserve better.