Why more than 1,400 lives were lost on SA roads this festive season
Human error, including drink-driving, reckless behaviour and speeding, was the main cause of road deaths during the 2025/26 festive season.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said a total of 1,427 lives were lost in 1,172 crashes.
This, she said, was a five percent decrease compared with the previous festive season.
Creecy said human behaviour caused about 80% of crashes, while heavy rain and other environmental factors contributed roughly 20%.
“You would be correct that some of our roads are narrow, without shoulders, and contain potholes or damaged tar,” Creecy said.
“But the fundamental cause of road accidents is human behaviour, not infrastructure.”
Most crashes occurred over weekends, particularly 7pm–9pm and midnight–1am, and included pedestrian collisions, single-vehicle overturns, head-on collisions and hit-and-runs.
Taxis accounted for 7% of crashes, often with multiple fatalities.
What you need to know:
-1.8 million vehicles stopped at 1,632 roadblocks.
-450,000 fines issued and 525 arrests for speeding.
-8,561 drivers tested positive for alcohol out of 173,695 tested.
-2,547 road safety campaigns conducted at high-traffic areas.
-40% of crashes occurred from December 15 to 28 during festive gatherings.
Meanwhile, Creecy said five provinces, led by the Eastern Cape and Free State, recorded declines in fatalities, while Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape saw increases.
She said the preliminary annual data for 2025 shows 11,418 fatalities from 9,674 crashes, the lowest level in five years, with crashes down 6.4% and fatalities down 6.2% compared with 2024.
Creecy said the government would move to amend Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act to introduce a clear ban on drinking and driving, scrapping laws that allow drivers to consume limited amounts of alcohol.
“In today’s South Africa, it is totally unacceptable that there is a law that allows people to drink and drive,” she said.
“We owe it to the memory of those who have lost their lives on our roads.”
She said improved enforcement, public education and a zero-tolerance approach to alcohol would be central to achieving the goal of halving road deaths by 2030.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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