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Monday, May 5, 2025

22 Lives lost on Western Cape roads over Easter weekend

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Despite a slight decline in road fatalities this Easter, 22 people lost their lives on Western Cape roads between 17 and 21 April 2025. This is down from the 26 deaths that were recorded during the same period last year.

The Western Cape Government has extended condolences to affected families, while calling on all road users to prioritise safety ahead of yet another upcoming long weekend.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones who lost someone on our roads this weekend. While it is encouraging to see a reduction in road fatalities this Easter compared to last year, we must not lose sight of the fact that every life lost is one too many. All road users are reminded that safety is a shared responsibility. Please obey road rules, avoid reckless behaviour, and ensure that you are fit to drive, not tired or under the influence” said Muneera Allie, Head of Communication for the Western Cape Mobility Department.

Law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, and healthcare teams were deployed across the province to respond to emergencies and promote road safety. The Provincial Health and Wellness MEC Mireille Wenger praised the dedication of frontline workers and urged the public to obey road rules and avoid risky behaviour.

“The sustained demand on our healthcare services highlights the vital role our healthcare workers play across the province – responding with skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Each call and each hospital visit represents a person in crisis. We are deeply aware of the emotional and physical toll this takes – not only on our staff, but also on affected families. Preventing trauma is a shared responsibility. “We urge residents to continue practising road safety, avoid abusing alcohol, and treat healthcare workers with respect. A safer province is only possible when we all do our part. Thank you to our EMS and hospital teams who worked throughout the long weekend, and for the care and commitment you continue to show our residents,” Wenger added.

 

Of the 22 lives lost this year, 14 fatalities occurred on municipal roads and 8 on provincial routes, with the majority of these incidents taking place within the Cape Metro:

  • 14 pedestrians
  • 5 passengers
  • 2 drivers
  • 1 motorcyclist

 

The Western Cape Mobility Department’s Provincial Traffic Services conducted 784 integrated operations across the province during this period, including roadblocks, vehicle check points and speed control operations. As a result:

 

  • Over 30 000 vehicles were stopped and checked
  • Just over 19 000 fines were issued for various offences
  • 8,714 speeding violations were recorded
  • 226 arrests were made, of which 181 were for driving under the influence of alcohol

 

Between 07:00 on Friday to 07:00 on Tuesday, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) logged a total of 7,988 incidents. The most frequent calls were for:

  • Non-cardiac related pain: 1,505
  • Respiratory complaints: 1,049
  • Assault-related injuries: 597

Transport-related emergencies included:

  • 85 pedestrian vehicle accidents
  • 104 motor vehicle accidents
  • 5 incidents involving cyclists

Hospitals across the province also managed high volumes at their emergency centres. At the Hospital Emergency Centre Trauma Information System (HECTIS) reporting sites (*see footnote below), 16,395 patient episodes were recorded over the weekend period (00:00 Friday to 08:00 Tuesday). Of these:

  • 3,624 were trauma-related cases
  • 12,476 were non-trauma cases

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) also responded to a number of fatalities over the Easter weekend:

  • 23 fatal shootings
  • 6 confirmed suicides
  • 1 drowning

READ MORE: Significant drop in road accidents and deaths this Easter, says AA

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