Deputy Minister monitors road safety campaign closure in Northern Cape

DEPUTY Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa visited the Northern Cape on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, to monitor the implementation and close out the Safer Festive Season Road Safety Campaign for 2025/26.

During the visit, the Deputy Minister joined Northern Cape MEC for Transport Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi, in a high visibility law enforcement operation on the R31 outside Kimberley. The operation, which took place from 10:00, brought together the National Traffic Police, the South African Police Service, the Kimberley Traffic Department, and the Department of Home Affairs.

A roadblock was set up just outside the city, where more than 100 vehicles were stopped and checked for compliance. Several traffic offenses were dealt with on the spot, while a number of undocumented foreign nationals were detained during the operation.

Addressing officials and the media, Hlengwa conveyed greetings from Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy and highlighted the importance of cooperation across all spheres of government. He said the festive season operations demonstrated the value of sharing resources, skills, and expertise, particularly through the swift deployment of the National Traffic Police to strengthen capacity in the province.

He committed to a more proactive approach going forward, noting that the Northern Cape continues to require priority attention due to increased traffic volumes. According to Hlengwa, many motorists are using provincial roads as alternative routes, while heavy truck traffic and long distances add to road safety challenges.

While the festive season campaign officially ended on the day of the visit, Hlengwa stressed that road safety is a daily responsibility. He said attention would now shift to scholar transport as schools and tertiary institutions reopen, bringing more vehicles onto the roads for the next 200 days.

He also linked road safety to education outcomes, congratulating the class of 2025 on their matric results and emphasising the importance of ensuring learners travel safely to and from school. Hlengwa called for stronger collaboration with the Department of Basic Education to include road safety education, particularly for young learners using scholar transport.

Referring to a fatal scholar transport accident in 2024, he said the tragedy highlighted the need for user education, not only vehicle roadworthiness. He explained that children must be taught, in simple language, how to respond in emergencies, including how to exit vehicles safely.

Hlengwa warned that as the Northern Cape promotes tourism, increased traffic, alcohol use, and speeding remain serious concerns. He said road safety interventions must be data driven and focused on reducing fatalities, not public relations exercises.

He confirmed that festive season road safety statistics will be released later in the week and said lessons from the period would inform future planning, including preparations for the Easter holiday.

The Deputy Minister thanked MEC Koloi for her hands on approach and commitment, adding that strong cooperation between national and provincial authorities will be key to improving road safety and reducing deaths on Northern Cape roads.