South Africa Road Deaths Fall to 11,485 in 2025: RTMC Urges Road Users to Protect Life on Remembrance Day, Government Mourns Journalist Aged 34
South Africa's Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) appealed to all road users to protect human life on November 15, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. According to the RTMC's 2025 State of Road Safety Report, the country recorded 9,734 fatal crashes and 11,485 road deaths in 2025, down 5.85% and 5.64% respectively from 2024, meaning 687 fewer lives were lost. On the same day, the government expressed deep sadness at the passing of investigative journalist Nabeelah Shaik, 34, on November 14, while the National Financial Ombud and the Northern Cape police issued Black Friday warnings on credit spending and shopping safety ahead of November 27.
The RTMC said pedestrians remain the most vulnerable group, accounting for about 45% of all road fatalities: 5,224 pedestrians died in 2025, compared with 5,454 in 2024. The road death rate fell from 19.32 per 100,000 people in 2024 to 18.20 in 2025. Pedestrian crashes, hit-and-run incidents, single-vehicle overturns and head-on collisions together accounted for about 80% of recorded crashes in 2025, and human factors accounted for more than 87% of the contributory factors in fatal crashes. The RTMC said every road death is preventable, and urged motorists to obey traffic laws, reduce speed, never drive under the influence of alcohol, avoid distractions and remain alert to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, while pedestrians should use designated crossing facilities, remain visible and exercise caution when crossing roads.
On the journalist's passing, Deputy Government spokesperson William Baloyi said on November 15 that government had learnt with deep sadness of the untimely passing of South African investigative journalist Nabeelah Shaik, who died on November 14 at the age of 34. At the time of her passing, Shaik was an investigative reporter at eNCA. She began her career as a multimedia journalist at Independent Newspapers' Sunday Tribune in 2013 and was a recipient of the Vodacom Journalist of the Year regional awards. According to an eNCA post on X, Shaik was pregnant at the time and will be laid to rest with her unborn child; she was also a wife, a daughter and a devoted mother to a little girl. Government extended its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and the broader media fraternity.
On consumer finance, Black Friday falls on November 27. The National Financial Ombud (NFO) urged South Africans not to let the excitement of bargain hunting cloud their financial judgement. Nerosha Maseti, the NFO's Banking and Credit Lead Ombud, said a discount may reduce the purchase price, but financing that purchase creates an obligation that continues long after the sale has ended. The NFO gave an example: a product priced at R6,000 financed over 24 months at R350 per month results in a total payout of R8,400, and once interest, fees and required insurance are factored in, the consumer could pay R2,400, or 40%, more than the sticker price. The NFO also expects increased use of Buy Now, Pay Later arrangements this Black Friday, and reminded consumers that a credit approval should not be viewed as confirmation of personal financial health, and that returning a product does not automatically cancel a separate financing agreement.
On safety, the South African Police Service in the Northern Cape said increased movement at shopping centres, retail outlets and ATMs during Black Friday may create opportunities for criminals to target unsuspecting shoppers. Police advised the public to have bank cards ready before approaching an ATM, shield the keypad when entering a PIN, never accept assistance from strangers, and avoid withdrawing large amounts of cash. Online shoppers were urged to use reputable and secure websites, verify the authenticity of online retailers and sellers, never disclose banking details, PINs or passwords to anyone, be cautious of offers that appear too good to be true, and report suspicious activities.
The same SAnews edition also carried three features on local government service delivery, why every vote matters in local government elections, and the gap between food availability and access in food security.
(Source: South African Government News Agency)
Source: South African Government News Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 比勒陀利亚联邦大厦。The union buildings, pretoria. Photo by Ruby D-Brown, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
