The Western Cape is once again expecting a busy Easter long weekend as more South Africans will be travelling to various destinations to attend religious gatherings and to go on holiday.
This is good news for our economy and for a return to normal social life. We warmly welcome those who will be travelling into the Western Cape, and wish those who will be leaving for the long weekend a safe and pleasant journey.
The past two Easter holidays under lockdown had a devastating impact on our economy and on the livelihoods of millions of people in the Western Cape and South Africa. Traveling was restricted over this busy period. There’s already an increase in vehicular traffic as many people start making their way to various destinations.
We encourage all those who will be traveling this weekend to practise good driver behaviour, comply with the rules of the road, stay within the legal speed limits and observe adequate rest periods during travel in order to avoid fatigue.
This Easter, we will pay special attention to seat belts and encourage everyone to buckle up. Seat belts save lives and the law requires that all vehicle occupants wear an appropriate seat belt. Wearing seat belts reduces the risk of death in motor vehicle crashes by up to 45%. Seat belts prevent 99% of occupants being ejected in a crash.
Provincial Traffic will continue with structured Traffic Law Enforcement interventions together with road safety education, communication, and awareness programmes aimed at positively influencing all road users to behave responsibly while using the road network during the long weekend.
This operational plan for the Easter period 2022 forms part of the National 365 Road Safety Calendar, which will be strengthened by well-structured and integrated operations across the province through an integrated and joint approach. The Western Cape already activated our approved Easter safety plan on 1 April 2022 including the following three critical periods;
- Pre-Easter period - 01 April 2022 – 12 April 2022
- Easter long weekend – 14 April 2022 – 18 April 2022
- Freedom Day and Workers’ Day Long weekend – 26 April 2022 – 3 May 2022
Provincial Traffic and road safety practitioners will actively execute integrated operations focusing on but not limited to the following areas:
- Integrated Provincial Interventions and Focus
- Learner Transport operations
- Public Transport operations
- Weighbridge Operations: ‘Malayisha’ weighbridge activities (Freight transport, RTQS checks, Illegal movements, Massamatic screening of loads and Long-distance buses)
- Driver and vehicle fitness operations
- Alcohol enforcement
- Fatigue management operations
- Moving violations operations
- Seatbelt operations (Front and Rear)
- Speed operations and awareness
- Freight awareness
- Pedestrian awareness
- Motorcycle awareness
- Farmworker transportation operations and awareness
Integrated Provincial Interventions
- Inter-Provincial Traffic operations involving Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape
- Integrated SAPS operations
The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, said: “I am very encouraged by the measures put in place by the Western Cape Government, particularly through the Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works and the Disaster Management Centre, to ensure the safety of visitors and residents alike over this period, and strongly encourage personal safety of both drivers and pedestrians over this period.”
Premier Winde added: “To promote the safety of those in our province over this long weekend, the Western Cape Government has ensured that all emergency services in the province work together with the Provincial Health Department’s Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Services to identify high risk areas and plan combined responses to these areas.”
“We have further developed a drowning prevention strategy with Lifesaving Western Cape and the NSRI which includes training, awareness programmes and the provision of resources to assist life savers at beaches. This will ensure the safety of those swimming in our waters over the long weekend,” continued Premier Winde.
Premier Winde said: “I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable long weekend, and I also want to wish those observing Easter and Passover a joyous and peaceful time. I also want to especially welcome those travelling to our province over this period from locally and abroad. It is incredibly reassuring to see the recovery of our tourism and hospitality sectors.”
Premier Winde concluded: “It is important that we take every measure to promote safety on our roads over this period. Doing so will ensure that we reduce pressure on our healthcare system and save lives. It will make this long weekend all the more enjoyable, encouraging visitors to return to our beautiful province once again.”
Media Queries:
Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka
Spokesperson for Minister Daylin Mitchell
Cell: 082 953 0026
Email: Ntomboxolo.Makoba-Somdaka@westerncape.gov.za