South Africa has recorded a 142% spike in road crashes with multiple fatalities at the mid-point of the festive season, resulting in 17 crashes this year compared to seven over the same period last year. "Year-on-year, the number of fatalities has marginally declined by 3.1% from 848 in 2020 to 822 this year. Fatalities increase in five provinces"Our statistics show that fatalities increased in five provinces, with [the] exception of the Free State, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. "The Eastern Cape recorded the highest decline of 30.7% in fatalities, from 127 fatalities in 2021 to 88 so far this year," Mbalula said. The Northern Cape recorded an increase of 60%, from 20 fatalities in 2020 to 32 over the same period, while the Western Cape recorded an increase of 49.3%, from 71 fatalities in 2020 to 106 over the same period.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 22, 2021 10:50 UTC