KwaZulu-Natal deploys thousands of officers for Easter traffic

By Palesa Matlala

• More than 3,400 law enforcement officers will patrol roads day and night across KwaZulu-Natal until May to prevent crashes and enforce traffic laws.
• Authorities will run over 140 roadblocks and target drunk driving, speeding, unsafe vehicles and pedestrians ignoring safety rules during the holiday rush.

KwaZulu-Natal has stepped up road safety plans ahead of the busy Easter and Passover holiday period.

The province has deployed more than 3,483 law enforcement officers to monitor roads and reduce accidents.

KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma announced the plans during a campaign launch at the Umdloti Road Traffic Inspectorate Centre.

The operation also includes support from more than 105 national traffic police officers.

Duma said officers will work around the clock until 3 May 2026.

The campaign started with inspections of public transport vehicles.

Officials checked 17 buses and minibus taxis, and four vehicles were impounded during the first operations.

Authorities have also already held a major roadblock in KwaMashu with the South African Police Service and eThekwini Metro Police.

Duma said the new Head of Department, Zibusiso Dlamini, will lead efforts to strengthen operations at 17 weighbridge sites across the province.

He said thousands of vehicles are being checked every month, with some trucks already impounded for overloading and using fake registration documents.

The department is also looking at using artificial intelligence to improve enforcement.

Duma said this could include number plate recognition, real time data tracking and systems to detect unusual activity.

The province wants to reduce road deaths by 10% during the holiday period.

Duma said fatalities dropped in 2025 compared to 2024, showing that safety efforts are working.

Several measures have been put in place to improve safety.

These include 148 roadblocks, with more than 80 operations focusing on drunk driving.

More than 118 speed checks will be carried out in high risk areas.

Police will also run more than 17 interprovincial roadblocks and 91 operations targeting scholar transport.

In a new move, 28 operations will focus on pedestrian behaviour.

Duma warned that pedestrians who do not use bridges will face penalties.

Unroadworthy vehicles, including taxis, will be removed from the roads.

The department expects heavy traffic, with between 1,500 and 2,000 vehicles per hour expected at toll gates from 2 April 2026.

Duma urged all road users to follow the rules.

He said cooperation is needed to keep people safe during the holiday period.

Image Caption: Traffic officers prepare for Easter road safety operations

Image source: Supplied