The Western Cape has been rocked by a devastating week on its roads, with 23 lives lost in 23 separate crashes from 30 June to 6 July 2025, more than half of them pedestrians, Cape town Etc reports.
Authorities are sounding the alarm over rising road deaths and rampant drunk driving, especially in the face of harsh winter conditions.
Of the fatalities reported, 15 were pedestrians, joined by four drivers, three passengers, and one motorcyclist. These figures paint a grim picture of the province's traffic crisis, with Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku expressing deep concern over what he called 'avoidable tragedies.'
'What we're seeing is a heartbreaking pattern of recklessness,' Sileku said. 'The roads are dangerous enough during winter. Add alcohol and irresponsible behaviour, and the results are catastrophic.'
Compounding the tragedy, 57 people were arrested for drunk driving in the same week, despite heavy rains and poor visibility on the roads. The provinces traffic services conducted 213 enforcement operations, stopping over 27 000 vehicles.