MEC Nqatha Rallies Officers Ahead of Easter Rush

Eastern Cape Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha is set to convene a province-wide engagement with Traffic Officers, Road Safety Officers and driving school representatives as the province prepares for the busy Easter travel period.

The high-level engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen road safety enforcement and coordination across the Eastern Cape’s transport sector.

Building on Festive Season Gains

The meeting comes on the back of a reported 31.05% reduction in road fatalities during the 2025/26 Festive Season.

According to the Department of Transport, the decline in fatalities has been largely attributed to intensified law enforcement operations, particularly a significant increase in drunken driving arrests.

Drunken driving arrests rose sharply from 710 in 2024/25 to 1,673 in 2025/26 — an increase of 963 arrests. Authorities say this intervention played a critical role in preventing crashes and saving lives on provincial roads.

However, the upcoming session is not positioned as a celebration of past achievements. Instead, it is described as a strategic mobilisation effort aimed at preparing officers for the heightened traffic volumes and enforcement demands expected over the Easter weekend.

Driving School Task Team Launched

During the engagement, MEC Nqatha will officially launch the Interim Driving School Task Team (VTC).

The task team is expected to focus on strengthening the regulation and oversight of driving schools across the province. The intervention aims to ensure that learner drivers receive proper training and develop into responsible, law-abiding motorists.

Officials say the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve road safety across the entire transport value chain — from driver training to on-road enforcement — while sustaining recent gains.

The session is expected to outline the province’s Easter road safety plans and enforcement strategy in greater detail.

As thousands of motorists prepare to travel across the Eastern Cape and beyond during the Easter period, authorities are urging drivers to comply with traffic laws, avoid drinking and driving, and prioritise safety on the roads.