​Thembisa Shologu
As the Festive Season approaches, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has issued a call for motorists to prioritise road safety. 
She emphasised the need for caution on the roads, especially as Gauteng continues to record the highest number of fatal crashes in South Africa, accounting for approximately 40% of national fatalities, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
Addressing the of Road Safety meets Tourism Conference at Cradle of Humankind in West Rand, MEC Diale-Tlabela said the attributing factors to the escalation in road fatalities included excessive speeding, reckless driving, and insufficient road infrastructure, particularly in high-traffic pedestrian zones.
The department has established an annual objective of reducing road fatalities by 10% during this financial year.
"While we prioritize road maintenance for safe driving conditions, we also encourage road users to uphold our country's laws, focusing on eradicating irresponsible behaviours like drink driving and the disturbing trend of recording content while driving, which significantly contributes to road fatalities, and we count on law enforcement agencies to remain proactive.
The department, according to the MEC has implemented an integrated road safety strategy, which includes enforcement, infrastructure development, public awareness, and community engagement.
The strategy was motivated by the alarming fact that approximately seven people die daily on Gauteng roads, totaling over 25 000 fatalities in ten years, with pedestrians constituting a disturbing 54% of these tragic losses.
To address pedestrian and cyclist safety, the MEC said the department is increasing its investment in pedestrian crossings, footpaths, bicycle lanes, and traffic-calming measures in both urban and rural areas. Additional upgrades will focus on lighting, signage, and crosswalk accessibility to enhance safety.
The Road Safety meets Tourism Conference was aimed at must intensifying government's efforts to keep the people of Gauteng as well as the visitors to the province safe while remaining a tourism destination of choice.
"By partnering strategically with the Cradle of Humankind, a world heritage site, we strive to tap into the tourism sector's capacity to drive road safety improvements, particularly in light of the consistent arrival of local and international visitors lacking familiarity with regional road conditions and regulations, thus enabling the industry to advocate for safer road practices and communicate critical safety information to tourists effectively," she said. 
CEO of Cradle Management Authority, Mathew Sathekge added, "Our experience is that housing is an attractive destination for tourism because it provides various options for visitors. 
"So, it is important for municipalities to make sure that the street lighting is improved, the robots are working but also our enforcement should make sure that they intensify their efforts to stop drinking and driving and also to reduce the crime level in our province."