For Immediate Release,
08th December 2022
SATAWU URGES ITS MEMBERS, WORKERS, AND MOTORISTS TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) wishes to urge and plea to its
members and workers as well as motorists to be extra cautious on the roads as we officially in
festive season. People are now traveling to various destinations in the country. We plea to our
members and workers to drive responsibly to avoid fatalities and unfortunate crashes.
Since the beginning of the festive season, we have seen more than five accidents and over 15
people have lost their lives. The organization is very concerned with the number of fatalities. We
urge all road users to ensure that their vehicles are road worthy, comply with road signs and
speed limits, it is better to be late than not to arrive.
Releasing the 2021 festive season fatality statistics, the Minister of Transport Min Mbalula
revealed that a total of 1 685 fatalities were recorded over the festive season period, which was
the 14% increase on the previous period. The Minister also revealed that the Northern Cape
recorded the highest increase of 97% from 33 fatalities to 65 fatalities in 2021 festive season
while the Eastern Cape recorded the largest decline in fatalities from 228 to 210 fatalities. These
reports were very shocking and disturbing as the union believes that one death is too many.
It is everyone’s responsibility to avoid deaths on the roads. We wish to urge people to avoid drink and driving and not drive and text as it is one of the main causes of these unfortunate and horrific crashes. The organization also wishes to urge pedestrians to ensure that they cross the road when it is safe to do so, they must not drink and walk.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union is also deeply concerned about undocumented drivers. That is very irresponsible and selfish. We are calling our law enforcement agencies to deal and arrest those who do not obey the law.
SATAWU wishes to encourage people to use Shosholoza long-distance train between Johannesburg and Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, and between Johannesburg and Musina in Limpopo. We wish you all a safe journey, drive responsible, and we wish to send our deepest condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones.
ARRIVE ALIVE.
Issues by SATAWU