Mpumalanga recorded 75 road fatalities between 1 April and 31 May 2026, prompting renewed calls for motorists to exercise caution ahead of the school holidays and increased traffic on the province's roads.
According to the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, 75 people lost their lives in various road crashes during the two-month period. Of those fatalities, 61 were male and 14 were female. The department said the majority of the male victims were drivers, followed by pedestrians and passengers.
The department noted that most crashes are linked to human behaviour and are preventable. With schools closing on Friday, MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie urged all road users to obey traffic laws, drive within the speed limit and avoid drinking and driving.
"Men should help save lives on the road by obeying the rules, sticking to the applicable speed limits and not drinking and driving," he said.
Motorists are also being advised to expect increased traffic volumes during the annual Innibos Festival, which starts on 2 July. Traffic law enforcement officers and members of the security cluster will be deployed on major routes, where traffic management operations will be implemented to help improve road safety throughout the event.