Motorists travelling through KwaZulu-Natal this Easter can expect heightened law enforcement visibility, with more than 3 400 officers deployed as part of a province-wide road safety campaign.

KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma officially launched the campaign at the Umdloti Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) Centre recently, confirming that 3 483 law enforcement officers – supported by an additional 105 national traffic police officers – will be on duty around the clock until 3 May 2026.

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Strong start to the campaign

The operation got underway with early inspections of public transport vehicles, where 17 buses and minibus taxis were checked by 9am.

Four vehicles were impounded during the initial phase, led by teams from Operation Shanela and the Road Traffic Inspectorate.

A multi-disciplinary roadblock in KwaMashu, conducted in partnership with SAPS and eThekwini Metro Police, has already set the tone for what authorities describe as an intensified enforcement period.

Focus on compliance

Authorities have outlined a comprehensive plan to improve road safety during the busy holiday period. Key interventions include:

· 148 roadblocks and compliance checks, including more than 80 targeting drunk driving
· 118 speed enforcement operations in high-risk areas
· 91 scholar transport inspections to ensure learner safety
· 28 pedestrian enforcement operations
· 17 interprovincial roadblocks by roving enforcement teams

Tackling overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles

Duma highlighted ongoing efforts to clamp down on overloaded trucks and fraudulent activity at weighbridges.

The Midway weighbridge alone recorded over 40 000 vehicles weighed, with several trucks impounded for overloading and fake registration documents.

The department is now exploring the use of artificial intelligence to improve enforcement, including automated number plate recognition and real-time data analysis to detect anomalies and reduce fraud.

Traffic volumes expected to surge

With the Easter long weekend approaching, authorities anticipate a sharp increase in traffic volumes.

Between 1 500 and 2 000 vehicles per hour are expected to pass through major tollgates from Thursday, 2 April.

The province has set a target of reducing road fatalities by 10% this year, building on a significant 38% decrease recorded during Easter 2025.

With thousands of officers on duty and enforcement ramped up across the province, road safety is a priority!

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