Increase in festive season road fatalities

Limpopo – Limpopo is one of only two provinces in South Africa which experienced an increase in the number of road fatalities during the 2019 to 2020 festive period. 

Statistics released by minister of transport Fikile Mablula show that from Sunday 1 December 2019 to Wednesday 15 January, Limpopo and Gauteng recorded more road fatalities when compared to the same period during the previous year. 

Limpopo experienced a 12% increase while Gauteng recorded 1%.  

This is a step in the wrong direction for Limpopo, which had experienced a decrease in the number of road fatalities during the 2019 Easter period.  

The transport minister said while the rest of the provinces had experienced a reduction in fatalities during the festive season, the department had nonetheless made inroads in clamping down on criminal activities in Limpopo.  

He said: “Three vehicle testing stations in Limpopo were shut down as a result of the anti-corruption investigations undertaken to eliminate the fraudulent issuing of vehicle roadworthy certificates.”