/ 27 March 2008

Minister: Decrease in Easter holiday road fatalities

The number of fatal crashes on South African roads over the Easter period has decreased in 2008 compared with last year, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said on Thursday.

”We are encouraged that the number of fatal crashes over Easter decreased by 55 from 250 in 2007 to 195 in 2008,” Radebe told reporters in Pretoria.

The minister attributed the decrease to the message of road safety getting through to road users as well the cooperation of law-enforcement agencies with provinces.

Radebe added that law enforcement on roads should be intensified.

Road Traffic Management Corporation (TRMC) CEO Ranhoko Rakgoale said it was not possible to tell how many children were involved in road accidents over the Easter period.

On the issue of the taxi-recapitalisation programme, Radebe said that R200-million would be used to scrap about 10 000 minibus taxis. — Sapa