Zuko Komisa

As South Africans prepare for the Easter long weekend, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has issued a strong appeal for responsible road usage, highlighting the staggering financial and societal costs associated with road accidents. The call comes against a backdrop of concerning statistics, with the RAF revealing that it settled claims worth a substantial R45.6 billion in the 2023-2024 financial year alone.
This significant payout included R47 million allocated for funeral claims, a massive R21.6 billion for loss of earnings, R12.7 billion for general damages, R2.6 billion for loss of support, and R1.7 billion for medical compensation, underscoring the far-reaching economic consequences of road incidents.
“The RAF pleads with South African road users to make this Easter fatality free by using the roads responsibly,”
“Road fatalities and trauma result in devastating emotional, social and economic costs to the victims, their families and the country.” the Fund stated in a press release on Wednesday.
The urgency of the plea is amplified by the grim figures from previous Easter periods. The RAF noted with concern that Easter 2024 recorded the highest number of fatalities since 2019, with 335 deaths, a significant jump from the 252 fatalities recorded in 2023.
Analysis of road accidents between 2019 and 2024 during the Easter weekends reveals that human error, vehicle failure, and environmental factors were major contributors to the 1,325 fatalities recorded.
Speeding, jaywalking, and hit-and-run incidents were identified as key human factors, while tyre bursts, brake failures, and worn tyres were prominent vehicle-related causes. Environmental factors such as poor visibility, sharp bends, stray animals, and road surface defects also played a significant role in jeopardizing road safety.
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