Transport Minister Barbara Creecy
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy mentioned 122 automobiles had been discontinued for defects that rendered them unroadworthy, whereas 1 147 automobiles had been impounded primarily for allow violations.
“This progress provides us hope as we begin the Easter peak journey interval,” Creecy mentioned on Saturday. “The success was made potential by intensified legislation enforcement in all provinces. A complete of 321 roadblocks had been held throughout the interval, with 374 161 automobiles stopped and checked.”
Greater than 500 drivers had been arrested for drunk driving, 14 for dashing and 93 pedestrians had been arrested for jaywalking on freeways.
Creecy mentioned 291 street deaths had been recorded at first of the lengthy weekend – a big decline from 356 throughout the identical interval in 2025.
Total, six provinces recorded decreases in fatalities: Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West and the Japanese Cape.
“Preliminary statistics point out that the variety of deadly crashes throughout the interval declined from 306 in the identical interval in 2025 to 255 this yr, representing a 16.7% lower,” Creecy mentioned.
“The variety of fatalities has been decreased from 356 to 291, which represents an 18.3% lower.”
On Friday, Creecy launched the 2026 Arrive Alive Easter Street Security marketing campaign underneath the theme ‘It Begins With Me’.
Excessive-risk routes recognized by the minister embody the N1, N2, N3 and N4, the place authorities have elevated each cellular and static checkpoints.
Throughout the nation, 321 roadblocks had been arrange, with greater than 374 000 automobiles stopped and inspected. Greater than 500 motorists had been arrested for driving underneath the affect.
In KwaZulu-Natal, greater than 2 582 motorists had been charged with numerous site visitors offences. Provincial transport MEC Siboniso Duma mentioned 16 183 automobiles had been stopped for inspection between Thursday and Saturday.
Greater than 3 483 legislation enforcement officers, supported by 105 nationwide site visitors cops, had been deployed throughout the province for the Easter holidays.
Throughout this era, 270 motorists had been charged with driving underneath the affect, 150 automobiles had been faraway from the roads and 67 motorists had been arrested.
Duma mentioned the province had set a goal of a ten% discount in street fatalities over the Easter and Passover lengthy weekend.
He mentioned KwaZulu-Natal had recorded a 38% lower in fatalities over Easter 2025, in contrast with 2024.
“We have now deployed greater than 3,483 legislation enforcement officers and 105 nationwide site visitors cops, who can be working 24 hours a day, seven days per week, till 3 Could 2026,” Duma mentioned.
In Johannesburg, metro police arrested 120 drunk drivers, whereas Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Division spokesperson Xolani Fihla reported two fatalities throughout the Easter weekend.
Bus firm Putco mentioned it had deployed 550 buses to ferry Christian pilgrims to the annual Zion Christian Church Easter gathering at Moria in Limpopo.
Within the Japanese Cape, greater than 10 folks died on the roads, whereas provincial transport authorities mentioned 150 motorists had been arrested for driving underneath the affect.
Creecy mentioned that greater than 80% of street crashes had been instantly linked to human behaviour.
“We’re calling on each driver, passenger and pedestrian to take possession of their conduct on our shared roads,” she mentioned.
