Easter Weekend Travel: Authorities on High Alert as Thousands Depart Gauteng

As the Easter weekend begins, law enforcement and transport authorities have launched a nationwide safety operation to manage the annual exodus of travellers from Gauteng and other provinces. With traffic volumes expected to surge, particularly on the N1, N3, and N12 highways, authorities are on 24-hour alert to ensure road safety and ease congestion.

Traffic officers will be deployed on the country’s major routes around the clock, with regular stops and vehicle inspections planned throughout the long weekend. Operation Paseka, a joint initiative led by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), SAPS, metro police departments, and provincial traffic departments, is in full force across all nine provinces.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution and observe traffic laws. “Wear your seat belts, reduce speed, buckle up babies and children, don’t text while driving — instead, use your hands-free kit and your voice to give instructions to your phone,” she advised.

Creecy noted that the provinces of Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Limpopo account for more than 76% of road accidents and deaths. She also highlighted that 80% of accidents are the result of human error, including speeding, texting while driving, fatigue, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Pedestrian behaviour, both sober and intoxicated, also contributes significantly to the problem.

“Most of the serious accidents and fatalities occur on Friday and Saturday nights, particularly between 6pm and 8pm,” she warned.

Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the RTMC, said there will be heightened monitoring at toll gates and across major routes. “We will be conducting joint law enforcement operations with the SAPS, provincial and municipal authorities to deal with issues such as drunk driving, speeding, and the roadworthiness of vehicles. We’ll maintain high visibility to curb rogue driver behaviour and remove pedestrians from the roads,” Zwane explained.

In addition to government enforcement, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has also stepped in. Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala, Santaco’s national spokesperson, said taxi patrollers will be deployed across the country in coordination with law enforcement to monitor compliance by taxi drivers, passengers, and operators.

“Much more heightened work will be on the N1 and R101 in Limpopo because the ZCC churches will be having their Easter pilgrimages after the closures dating back to Covid-19 lockdown times. This means traffic volumes will significantly increase,” said Phala.

Motorists are urged to:

• Rest every two hours to avoid fatigue.

• Avoid driving at night, especially on unfamiliar routes.

• Keep emergency contacts on hand.

• Secure valuables and do not overload vehicles.

With the Easter holiday marking one of the country’s busiest and most dangerous travel periods, officials are appealing to the public to play their part in saving lives. Law enforcement efforts will continue throughout the weekend, with additional deployments expected at known high-risk areas and accident hotspots