Mapaballo Borotho

As South Africa prepares to celebrate Youth Day, the Department of Transport and Community Safety is urging young people to prioritise road safety during the upcoming long weekend.
With thousands expected to travel across the country to celebrate the holiday, authorities are calling for caution on the roads to prevent unnecessary loss of life.
This year marks 49 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when courageous young people took to the streets to protest the compulsory use of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools. The department believes the best way to honour their legacy is through responsible behaviour.
Spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, Tidimalo Chuene, says youth can pay tribute to the generation of 1976 by making safer choices.
“Road fatalities among young people remain alarmingly high, with many incidents caused by excessive speeding, drunk driving, and reckless behaviour,” she said. “These preventable causes demand urgent change.”
Chuene also noted that most fatal crashes tend to occur over weekends when social activities are at their peak, making this long weekend a particularly high-risk period.
Authorities are urging all road users, especially young people, to stay alert, avoid drinking and driving, and respect traffic laws to ensure a safe Youth Day celebration.
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