As the holidays draw to a close, traffic volumes in the region are picking up. The N4, which connects Mpumalanga and Mozambique, is expected to be congested during this period.

On Sunday, January 4, the premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, said a multi-disciplinary operation is in place to enforce traffic rules among motorists.

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“Speed kills, and we therefore expect motorists to refrain from speeding in order to arrive alive. Since the start of the festive period, several crashes have been recorded, some of which led to fatalities,” he said.

“One death is one too many. We urge every road user to drive with caution and Arrive Alive.”

According to Ndlovu, the operation aims to reduce the number of accidents, adding that additional personnel are being recruited in the province. He said the target is 3 000, the number required for effective coverage.

Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison Jackie Macie, said: “During the festive season, between December 16 and 24, we processed around 24 000 vehicles per day. On December 25, more than 30 000 vehicles travelled on the N4 towards Mozambique.”

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He added that a similar volume of vehicles is expected to return as the holidays end, and that the necessary arrangements and plans have been made to manage traffic.