Johannesburg – Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has warned that vehicles found with defective brakes, smooth tyres, or steering faults will be impounded immediately to protect passengers.
The minister made her remarks in Vosloorus, Gauteng, on Friday, 20 March 2026, at the launch of the “May 1st Road Safety Campaign”.
“We gather today as the nation prepares for major religious festivals, including Eid-al -Fitr, the Passover Seder, and the Easter period,” Minister Creecy said.
This year, Easter in South Africa will be observed from Friday, 3 April (Good Friday) to Monday, 6 April (Family Day).
Easter Sunday falls on 5 April.
“Our mandate is clear: to ensure that every South African who sets out on a journey returns home safely,” the minister said.
“With regard to progress in reducing road fatalities this year, we are pleased to report that we have seen encouraging signs.”
She revealed that preliminary data for the period 1 January to 15 March indicates the lowest number of fatalities in six years.
The number of crashes in the period decreased by 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
Every province has seen a decrease in the number of crashes.
Fatalities have decreased by 10% compared with the same period last year. Six provinces recorded decreases in fatalities: namely Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, and Eastern Cape.
“This progress was not accidental; it is the direct result of coordinated law enforcement, strategic partnerships with civil society, and a shift in the collective consciousness of our road users,” said Minister Creecy.
“However, we cannot rest on these laurels.”
Presently, more than 80% of road crashes are caused by wrong human behaviour, with pedestrians accounting for almost half of all road deaths.
“As long as one family still receives a knock on the door with news of a tragedy, our work is not done,” lamented the minister.
“For the next two months, we reaffirm our theme: ’It Begins With Me’”.
Minister Creecy added: “We are calling on every driver, passenger, and pedestrian to take ownership of their conduct on our shared roads.
“Our law enforcement strategy over this time will be uncompromising.
“I have directed all agencies to prioritise public and freight transport safety as well as pedestrians.”
Current information on the NATIS system indicates that 342 048 vehicles – mainly minibuses, busses and trucks – are not roadworthy, while 338 659 professional driving permits have expired.
“We are engaging with the taxi and bus industries to address these worrying figures and ensure vehicle roadworthiness,” Minister Creecy said.
“Vehicles found with defective brakes, smooth tyres, or steering faults will be impounded immediately to protect passengers.”
The minister stated that South Africa wants to achieve the UN target of halving road deaths by 2030.
