By Marcus Moloko
South Africa has entered the Easter peak travel period, one of the busiest and most high-risk times on the country’s roads.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has provided an update on the Easter Season Road Safety Campaign, noting encouraging progress since its launch in March.
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Between 20 March and 30 March 2026, the number of crashes and fatalities nationwide fell compared with the same period last year, according to the Minister.
2025 figures indicated 306 fatalities, while 2026 figures indicated 255 crashes and fatalities. The reduction stood at 16.7%.
Creecy said reductions were recorded in almost all provinces, with Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Northern Cape showing the sharpest decreases, averaging over 45% fewer fatalities compared to last year.
The Free State and Eastern Cape recorded increases.
The Minister said that the N1 highway remained the busiest and most dangerous route during Easter, requiring full attention from emergency services.
“Fellow South Africans, we have today entered the Easter peak travel period, which is one of the busiest and unfortunately most high-risk periods on the roads in our country,” Creecy said.
“It is a well-known fact that the N1 is the busiest route during this period, and it requires the full attention of all emergency services so that we reduce crashes and fatalities,” she said.
The campaign runs until the end of April.