As we are in the festive season, a time for family, celebrations, and holiday cheer, our roads are becoming more dangerous.

Residents and motorists are urged to be extra vigilant following two separate highway incidents in which two people lost their lives just days apart.

According to Zubair Patel of the Southern Suburbs Community Forum, for the second time this week, innocent law-abiding citizens have been murdered for a cheap price.

“A motorist was robbed and murdered on the M1 highway northbound near Xavier Road. The driver was forced to stop after his car hit a log on the freeway in the early hours of Sunday morning,” Patel said.

Patel said a few days earlier, a Winchester Hills resident was killed in a similar robbery on the N1/N12 heading south.

“He was doing a good deed, giving people a lift to Eldorado Park when he met his tragic end,” said Patel.

Patel called these senseless murders a serious problem.

“Late-night driving is risky. They damage your vehicle, kill you, and take everything you own in the car,” Patel said.

In response to the growing danger, the Southern Suburbs Community Forum has shared important safety tips for all motorists:

Don’t stop if your vehicle is damaged:

If you are involved in an incident where rocks or logs damage your car, don’t stop. Even if it means driving on flat tyres, your safety is the most important thing. Drive as far as you can from the site.

Head to a safe location:

If you can continue driving, head to a well-lit, busy area like a filling station or another public space. This will provide a safer place to assess the situation and call for help.

Stay alert:

Be extra cautious when driving late at night. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and avoid stopping in isolated areas.

Rocks packed on the road: 76-year-old victim shot dead and robbed on the N12, near Eldorado
Park/Soweto. #CrimeWatch https://t.co/2hPwmTCERD

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) December 21, 2024