KEY POINTS
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The N1 highway in Limpopo recorded zero fatal crashes during the Easter weekend, a rare achievement credited to disciplined law enforcement and strategic traffic planning.
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Transport Minister Barbara Creecy praised traffic officers for their ethical conduct, especially in rejecting bribes from intoxicated drivers.
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Authorities aim to use Limpopo’s success as a model for future nationwide road safety campaigns during high-travel periods.
For the first time in recent memory, the N1 highway in Limpopo recorded no fatal crashes during the Easter weekend, a development praised by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy as a significant achievement in South Africa’s road safety efforts.
The announcement was made during a media briefing on the N1 in the Waterberg District, where Minister Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa provided an update on the national Easter road safety campaign.
Despite traffic volumes peaking at over 2,000 vehicles per hour on Thursday afternoon and Good Friday morning, the usually high-risk corridor remained incident-free in terms of fatalities.
According to IOL, Minister Creecy attributed this success to well-coordinated law enforcement efforts and visible policing.
“This is a rare occurrence on this route and it speaks of the effectiveness of our law enforcement and deployment plan in improving road safety outcomes,” Creecy said. “It shows what can be achieved when officers are visible, professional, and committed to their duty.”
While traffic volumes surged during the Easter holiday—a time typically marked by a spike in road-related deaths—authorities credit the drop in fatalities to improved planning, quick response units, and increased patrol presence.
Minister Creecy extended her appreciation to Limpopo’s Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye and her team, noting their tireless work to ensure public safety. “I want to thank the MEC and her team for the incredible work throughout the weekend in keeping people safe here on the N1 and on other routes in Limpopo,” she said.
The law enforcement strategy also included zero tolerance for corruption and misconduct. Several motorists were arrested not only for drunk driving but for attempting to bribe traffic officers. These incidents, while concerning, served as proof of the integrity and professionalism demonstrated by the officers on duty.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) revealed that three drivers were arrested in Limpopo after being found intoxicated and then trying to offer cash bribes to evade charges. In one case, a driver was stopped on Good Friday and attempted to bribe officers with R300.
“Members of the National Traffic Police handcuffed the motorists who tried to evade a charge of drunken driving by offering cash to officers,” the RTMC reported in a statement.
Minister Creecy praised the officers involved for their ethical conduct, stating, “They have shown that they are professionals performing their duties with the highest level of ethics, discipline and integrity.”
A safer N1 sets new benchmark
With no fatal crashes reported on Limpopo’s busiest highway during one of the year’s most dangerous weekends, the province has become a model for how targeted law enforcement can save lives. The results may serve as a blueprint for national road safety campaigns, particularly during other high-travel periods such as the December holidays.
The RTMC continues to push for broader adoption of safety technologies, improved road infrastructure, and expanded partnerships with community safety units, such as the Community Protection Guards (CPGs), who assisted in monitoring the highway throughout the weekend.
Minister Creecy noted that the public’s growing trust in traffic authorities depends not only on enforcement but also on visible ethical conduct. “Arresting those who attempt to bribe officers restores faith in our public institutions and sets an example for future engagements between motorists and law enforcement,” she said.
