Pretoria: Transport Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa has called on South Africans to honour the sacrifices of road traffic enforcement officers and recommit to making roads safer for all. The Deputy Minister was delivering remarks at the World Remembrance Day of Road Accident Victims at a wreath-laying ceremony for fallen traffic officers in Pretoria on Sunday. Hlengwa highlighted the dual tragedy of lives lost to road accidents and those sacrificed by officers safeguarding others.
According to South African Government News Agency, Hlengwa stated, “Today, we gather to observe a day to reflect, honour, and remember those whose lives have been tragically cut short or forever changed by collisions on the roads globally. We also solemnly remember the fallen traffic law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, trying to prevent road collisions and save lives.” He noted that 69 traffic officers have died in the line of duty since 2019, with the majority being from Gauteng.
The Deputy Minister empha
sized the courage and resolve of these officers, who did not shy away from danger. He noted that South Africa recorded 11,883 road deaths last year, a 4.4% decrease from 2022. However, the figure still reflects thousands of shattered lives and highlights the need for continued efforts in road safety.
South Africa has seen progress since the launch of the National Road Safety Strategy in 2016, achieving a 15% reduction in fatalities from the 2010 baseline. Despite this, Hlengwa stressed that more progress is needed to meet the 2030 goal of halving road fatalities. The government plans to revise the strategy, setting a target to reduce road deaths by 5% for the 2024/25 financial year.
Hlengwa paid tribute to road accident victims and their families, urging the nation to remember the human cost behind the statistics. He outlined critical actions to prevent road accidents, including driver education, improving road infrastructure, and supporting survivors. Hlengwa also pointed out that South Africa lags behind
some nations that have achieved remarkable reductions in road fatalities, with ten countries reducing fatalities by over 50% last year.