We remember the fallen heroes | SAnews

Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa has called on South Africans to honor the sacrifices of road traffic enforcement officers and commit to making roads safer for everyone.

The Deputy Minister was speaking on World Road Crash Victims Remembrance Day at a wreath-laying ceremony for fallen traffic officers in Pretoria on Sunday.

Hlengwa noted the dual tragedy of the lives lost in road accidents and those sacrificed by officers protecting others.

“Today, we come together to celebrate a day to reflect, honor and remember those whose lives have been tragically cut short or forever changed by crashes on roads around the world. We also respectfully commemorate the traffic law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty while trying to prevent road collisions and save lives.

“As we commemorate the 69 traffic police officers who have lost their lives on duty since 2019, we also remember the importance of their sacrifices. “These officers gave their lives in the pursuit of justice and the protection of others,” he said.

The majority of the 28 officers in total were from Gauteng, followed by 13 from KwaZulu-Natal, nine from Mpumalanga, seven from the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, two from the National Traffic Police and one each from the Free State. Northern Cape and Western Cape.

The Deputy Minister said that the officers did not shy away from danger, on the contrary, they faced it with courage and determination. By doing so, he said, they showed the nation what true heroism looks like: a commitment to service that goes beyond duty and extends into the realm of sacrifice.

The Deputy Minister discussed alarming road death statistics. Last year, 11,883 traffic deaths were recorded in South Africa, a 4.4% decrease compared to 2022. But this figure still reflects thousands of shattered lives.

“These tragedies are not just statistics; they are real people; mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues. “Behind every number is a person with dreams, aspirations and loved ones whose world has changed forever,” he said.

Progress and Renewed Commitments

South Africa has made huge progress since the launch of the National Road Safety Strategy in 2016, with a 15% reduction in fatalities from 13,967 deaths in 2010. However, Hlengwa stressed that progress must accelerate to reach the halving target by 2030. road deaths.

In response, the government plans to revise the strategy, setting a target of reducing road deaths by 5% for the 2024/25 financial year.

“Based on this, it is clear that South Africa has made progress and achieved a 15 percent reduction compared to 2010. But today is not just about grief, it’s about action. Every life lost is a call to action for all of us to take road safety seriously.

“As a country, we decided to review our National Road Safety Strategy in order to accelerate the reduction in deaths in order to reach the set target as soon as possible.

“In the medium term, there will be greater focus on road safety training, engineering and law enforcement. Effective evaluation mechanisms will also be put in place to ensure the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of our programs. Hlengwa said the revised target was to reduce road deaths by five (5) per cent for the 2024/25 financial year.

Day of Remembrance and Resolution

Hlengwa paid tribute to road accident victims and their families, urging the country to remember the human cost behind the statistics.

“We stand together today in the hope that our collective efforts can help prevent future tragedies. We remember that every life is precious, every loss is deeply felt in families, communities and nations.

“As we light a candle in remembrance, let us also light a flame of hope – hope for safer roads, hope for a future where fewer families will have to suffer the pain of losing a loved one in a road accident,” he said.

The Deputy Minister outlined critical actions to prevent road crashes, including driver training, improving road infrastructure and supporting survivors.

“Traffic accidents are often preventable. There is much we can do to reduce the number of lives lost on our roads through better infrastructure, safer vehicles, responsible driving or stricter enforcement of the law,” he insisted.

Globally, South Africa lags behind some countries that have achieved notable reductions in road deaths. Hlengwa pointed out that ten countries reduced their death rates by more than 50% last year, which constitutes a benchmark for which South Africa is aiming. – SAnews.gov.za