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Eastern Cape festive season road deaths

By

Dear Editor

The latest figures on road fatalities in the Eastern Cape are devastating. Over the festive season, 231 people lost their lives in 168 crashes, representing a tragic escalation from the previous year. This shocking reality underscores the ongoing failure of the provincial government to prioritise road safety effectively.

Despite repeated warnings and calls for action, the Eastern Cape government has not taken the necessary steps to mitigate the carnage on our roads. The situation on high-risk routes, particularly the N2 and R61, remains dire, with countless lives lost on these dangerous stretches. These statistics are not mere numbers—they represent families torn apart and futures stolen.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) reiterates its call for urgent, tangible action:

24/7 Traffic Law Enforcement: High-risk routes must be continuously monitored, and additional resources must be allocated to ensure visibility and proactive intervention.
Average Speed Over Distance Cameras: Proven effective in the DA-governed Western Cape, these systems should be implemented on the most dangerous stretches, like the N2, to reduce speeding and reckless driving.
Targeted Roadblocks and Sobriety Checks: Stricter penalties for drunk and negligent drivers are non-negotiable. These measures must be consistently enforced to deter law-breaking behaviour.

Traffic officers are doing their best under incredibly challenging circumstances, often working exhausting hours to keep our roads safe. Their efforts are commendable, but they cannot succeed without the necessary tools and support from the government.

The DA extends our deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones during this festive season. No one should face such a devastating loss, and the DA will not rest until the Eastern Cape government takes decisive steps to protect lives.

The current government cannot deliver the leadership and solutions needed to address this crisis. The people of the Eastern Cape deserve better, and the DA will continue to champion road safety initiatives to prevent further tragedies.

Regards

Kabelo Mogatosi MPL
DA Shadow MEC for Transport

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Port Elizabethan

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