The Eastern Cape recorded 28 fatalities during the 2025 Easter weekend, a marginal decrease from the 29 reported in 2024, according to the Easter Road Safety Report released by the Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy.
These figures place the province among the regions struggling to make significant improvements, despite a nationwide reduction in crashes and fatalities.
“The numbers in the Eastern Cape remain concerning,” said Creecy in her report. “While overall crashes and fatalities have decreased nationwide, Eastern Cape remains one of the provinces where the road safety message has yet to make a deeper impact.”
Notably, the Eastern Cape also recorded the highest breath alcohol content violation during the Easter period. In Tsolo, a motorist was arrested after registering an alcohol level of 2.38 milligrams per 1000 millilitres of breath – almost ten times above the legal limit.
Nationwide, this year’s Easter campaign was hailed as the safest in three years, with road crashes reduced by 32.5% and fatalities decreasing significantly by 45.6%. However, unlike most provinces, which posted considerable declines, the Eastern Cape figures have sparked calls for intensified local efforts.
“Fatalities involving pedestrians continue to account for almost half of all road deaths, and this is a troubling statistic,” said Creecy. “It highlights the need to more effectively reach pedestrians in their communities.”
The reduction in fatalities in most provinces, paired with the overall improvement nationwide, has been attributed to enhanced collaboration between national, provincial, and local authorities, coupled with partnerships among civil society, law enforcement, and private sector entities.
The “It Begins with Me” campaign was particularly praised for promoting better driver behaviour.
During the campaign, law enforcement conducted over 177 500 vehicle stops and issued 44 500 traffic fines. Officers impounded over 1500 vehicles, discontinued more than 2000 unroadworthy vehicles, and arrested nearly 1,000 drivers for drunken driving.
“These results show the power of early education, coordination, and planning,” Creecy emphasised. “The combined efforts of law enforcement, civil society, and other stakeholders were critical in achieving these results.”
The minister urged stakeholders to sustain momentum and aim for the national target of reducing road incidents and fatalities by 50% by 2029. “Our challenge now is to ensure that these efforts aren’t just seasonal but sustained on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis,” she said.
The Eastern Cape’s slight improvement in fatalities, paired with additional issues such as pedestrian-related incidents and drunk driving, signals a need for enhanced enforcement and community-targeted awareness campaigns.
Creecy thanked the traffic officers, police, and all stakeholders who contributed to improving road safety, adding, “The nation is proud of your patriotism. Together, we can build safer roads for everyone.”
