Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
While South Africa’s major national corridors remained largely accident-free this Easter, the Eastern Cape has been struck by tragedy on its secondary roads.
Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that 15 people lost their lives in three separate crashes across the province, even as local drunk driving arrests surged.
Fatalities on smaller routes
Eastern Cape Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha noted that while the heavy presence of law enforcement kept primary highways safe, the fatalities occurred on smaller, less-monitored routes.
The deadliest incident occurred on the M17 in Gqeberha, where a head-on collision between a Renault Triber and a manganese truck claimed seven lives.
Further tragedies were recorded on the R67 near Whittlesea, where two separate crashes claimed a combined eight lives, including a horrific collision where a vehicle burst into flames.
Nqatha attributed these deaths to a combination of reckless driving and driver fatigue.
“Our emergency teams and traffic officers worked tirelessly to maintain order on the main arteries, but human error on our smaller roads has led to these tragic losses,” Nqatha said.
Zwane: Drunk Driving a “Major Headache”
The local crisis mirrors a “staggering” national increase in drunk driving detections.
Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), confirmed that 934 motorists were arrested across South Africa between Thursday and Saturday, a 39% increase compared to last year.
Zwane emphasised the human factor behind these figures.
“Drunken driving has been a source of a major headache on the roads over the Easter long weekend.
Arrests related to driving under the influence of alcohol increased as law enforcement officers intensified their efforts to save lives,” he said.
Provincial Crackdown: 300+ Arrested
In the Eastern Cape alone, the crackdown was particularly intense, with over 300 motorists taken into custody for DUI.
The Mthatha area recorded the highest number of arrests (59), followed by Buffalo City (44).
This provincial effort was part of a wider national operation that saw:
- 1,215 vehicles impounded nationwide for various permit violations.
- 688 unroadworthy vehicles discontinued from service.
- A decline in national road deaths to 291, down from 356 in 2025.
“It Begins With Me”
Despite the decline in national figures, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and MEC Nqatha both warned that over 80% of road crashes remain linked to human behaviour.
Authorities are urging the public to embrace the “It Begins With Me” campaign theme as the holiday period wraps up.
“We continue to urge motorists to be extra cautious,” said provincial spokesperson Unathi Binqose. “The heavy deployment of traffic officers and police prevented further tragedies, but ultimate responsibility lies with the driver.”
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