Cyril Ramaphosa has committed his administration to significantly reducing road fatalities in South Africa.
The President made the pledge while addressing the inaugural National Transport Conference in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, on Monday morning.
The three-day conference has brought together policymakers, investors and innovators to discuss ways to develop a sustainable transport system that supports economic growth and job creation.
South Africa records nearly 12,000 road deaths each year, a figure Ramaphosa says the government aims to reduce by at least half within the next four years.
The President said the country’s roads, which are meant to support economic activity and development, too often become sites of fatal crashes and serious injuries.
He noted that recent safety interventions, including the deployment of the National Traffic Police on key national routes, have already begun to show positive results.
According to Ramaphosa, the most recent festive season recorded the lowest number of road crashes in five years.
He said the government’s broader goal is to cut road fatalities by at least 50 percent by 2030 through targeted road safety measures and improved enforcement.