South Africa records thousands of road fatalities annually, with risky overtaking directly linked to a substantial portion of these deaths through head-on collisions that frequently claim the lives of innocent drivers and their passengers.
According to Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) quarterly state of road safety reports, human factors account for 84.0% of fatal crashes in the fourth quarter of 2024/2025 and 88.9% in the second quarter of 2024. Within human factors, overtaking across barrier lines contributed 1.7% in Q4 2024/2025 (1.4% in the corresponding prior period), while overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic contributed 3.7% (2.3% previously).
Head-on collisions constituted 10.9% of all fatal crashes in the second quarter of 2024. These crash types often arise from unsafe overtaking manoeuvres on undivided roads or in the face of oncoming traffic.
A comprehensive RTMC analysis of driver risk behaviours in fatal crashes from 2016 to 2018 examined 13,074 cases with identified driver factors out of a broader dataset of 33,659 fatal crashes. In that study, overtaking accounted for 22.4% of all driver risk behaviours, second only to speeding at 51.6%. The “other driver risk” category that includes overtaking produced an average crash severity of 1.5 fatalities per crash.
National figures show consistent high tolls: 11,883 road deaths occurred in 10,180 fatal crashes in 2023, while 12,436 people died in 2022 at a rate of 20.7 per 100,000 population. Earlier national strategy data aligned with these patterns, identifying overtaking into oncoming traffic as a key human-behaviour contributor alongside speeding.
In multi-vehicle crashes triggered by overtaking, the oncoming vehicle’s occupants — typically innocent drivers maintaining their lane and speed — sustain the impacts. RTMC data across quarters confirm that head-on and sideswipe-opposite-direction crashes form a measurable share of fatal incidents, directly resulting in fatalities and serious injuries to those not responsible for the overtaking decision.
Festive-season and quarterly RTMC consolidations repeatedly list reckless overtaking among the human factors driving spikes in fatalities, alongside hit-and-run and jaywalking, with more than 80% of fatal crashes overall attributed to human error in recent periods. Single quarters alone, such as Q4 2024/2025, recorded 2,403 fatalities in 2,050 crashes, while Q2 2024 saw 3,205 fatalities in 2,749 crashes.
These overtaking-related collisions produce documented higher average fatalities per incident than many other crash types, affecting not only the overtaking driver but primarily the occupants of correctly positioned vehicles in the opposing lane. The pattern persists on national routes, toll roads, and rural undivided highways where visibility and safe overtaking opportunities are limited.
RTMC reports from 2016–2018 through 2024/2025 consistently demonstrate that overtaking behaviours, when unsafe or unlawful, elevate both the frequency and lethality of head-on events, resulting in the documented annual loss of thousands of lives among law-abiding road users.
Two Men Arrested in Kempton Park for Impersonating a Doctor and Related Offences
KEMPTON PARK – Officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Intervention Unit and High-Speed Unit have arrested two male suspects, aged 42 and 51, in the Kempton Park area.
The arrests stemmed from information received about a man who was allegedly posing as a medical doctor. According to the details, the suspect was reported to be performing illegal abortions, issuing fraudulent prescriptions and selling sick notes.
Acting on the tip-off, the officers proceeded to a building situated at the corner of Central Avenue and West Street. There they located the suspect operating from an office.
When the officers introduced themselves and requested proof of professional qualifications, the suspect admitted that he had been falsely presenting himself as both a medical doctor and a herbalist. He confirmed using a medical certificate that did not belong to him.
During the search of the premises, a second man arrived and identified himself as the assistant of the first suspect.
Both men then attempted to bribe the officers in order to avoid arrest. The officers rejected the bribe, seized the money offered, and also confiscated termination tablets, a doctor’s stamp, fraudulent medical certificates, a sick note book and cell phones found at the scene.
The two suspects were placed under arrest and charged with fraud, bribery, contravention of the Health Professions Act and contravention of the Immigration Act.
They are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.
Viral Video Highlights Escalating School Bullying Crisis in South Africa
A video showing a young girl being beaten in front of a crowd of onlookers, including other children who stood by and in some cases recorded the incident, has been circulating widely on social media platforms. The footage, marked as not suitable for sensitive viewers, depicts the assault occurring in what appears to be a school-related setting, with bystanders failing to intervene.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
This incident comes amid growing evidence of bullying as a persistent and widespread problem in South African schools. According to data from the Department of Basic Education and UNICEF from 2023, approximately 3.2 million learners experience bullying each year, roughly double the global average. A 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study further revealed that 74% of South African Grade 5 students reported exposure to one or more forms of bullying almost monthly.
More recent figures underscore the scale of the issue. Provincial Education Departments reported a total of 11,194 incidents of bullying in public ordinary schools between October 2024 and September 2025. In the first weeks of the 2025 academic year alone, 548 cases were documented nationwide, with Limpopo province recording the highest number at 305. Earlier studies, including one from 2013 involving 12,000 Grade 9 pupils, showed that 36% of learners were involved in bullying as victims, perpetrators or both, with 19% identifying primarily as victims.
Additional statistics paint a concerning picture of under-reporting and impact. Research indicates that around two-thirds of victims never report their experiences, often due to fear of ridicule, disbelief or inaction. One in ten high school learners skips school to avoid bullying, contributing to absenteeism and disrupted education. Data also shows that 90% of bullying incidents are learner-on-learner, taking forms including physical, verbal and psychological abuse. Boys and older students have been identified in some studies as more likely to be victims.
The effects extend beyond immediate harm. Bullying has been linked to anxiety, depression, declining academic performance and, in severe cases, suicide. A 2021 study across primary schools found 33% of children aged 10-12 had been hit by peers, while 30% reported being called unkind names. The 2019 TIMSS data further noted that 64% of Grade 9 learners experienced bullying on at least a monthly basis.
The Department of Basic Education maintains the National School Safety Framework and has developed an Anti-Bullying Strategy that promotes a zero-tolerance approach, including early intervention, school-based support teams and codes of conduct. The department also observes Anti-Bullying Week annually in November to raise awareness. Provincial policies, such as the Western Cape’s “Abuse No More” guidelines, set timelines for acknowledging reports within 24-48 hours and completing investigations within 10 school days.
Despite these measures, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has raised concerns that bullying remains poorly addressed in provinces including the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Presentations to the committee highlighted inconsistencies in school-level data, under-reporting and a lack of uniform action. In the Eastern Cape alone, over 3,400 learners were affected by bullying incidents in one year, with varying quarterly figures pointing to gaps in documentation. The committee noted that responses often remain reactive rather than preventive.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has publicly urged school leaders to act swiftly on bullying allegations and has referenced interdepartmental mechanisms, including collaboration with the South African Police Service, to strengthen responses. Parliamentary records show the department receives aggregated provincial data to identify trends and guide national policy.
These statistics and ongoing reports confirm that school bullying continues to affect millions of South African learners, with documented incidents rising and systemic challenges in addressing the root causes persisting across provinces.
Johannesburg Authorities Issue Urgent Warning Over ‘Chuff’ Trend as Teens Inhale Fire Extinguisher Contents
A video showing school learners inhaling the contents of a fire extinguisher is spreading on social media, prompting concern from officials in Johannesburg.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
The activity, referred to as the ‘Chuff’ challenge, has triggered alerts from parents, teachers and emergency responders across the city.
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services has highlighted the serious health dangers linked to breathing in fire extinguisher substances. These risks include pneumonia, seizures and death.
Officials stated that fire extinguishers are made only to extinguish fires and are not intended for inhalation or any form of smoking.
To address safety awareness, the city operates Besafe Centres located in all seven regions. These centres provide educational programmes on life and fire safety, which cover the correct use of fire extinguishers.
Schools and members of the public are encouraged to visit the Besafe Centres or arrange for Public Education Officers to deliver these training sessions at their locations.
Parents have been called upon to speak directly with their children about the hazards of participating in the ‘Chuff’ trend.
Anyone who believes a person may be at risk from this activity is advised to contact the Emergency Management Services Command and Control Centre immediately on 011 375 5911.
The Emergency Management Services is appealing to the community to share accurate information about the dangers so that further harm can be avoided.
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Taxi Boss and Wife Fatally Shot in Drive-By Attack in Sandelhout Street, Delft South
Cape Town – A taxi boss and his wife were killed in a drive-by shooting on the evening of 16 March 2026 in Sandelhout Street, Delft South. Reports confirm the couple was inside their vehicle when assailants opened fire on the SUV. The incident occurred behind Goal Super Market in the area.
Multiple accounts describe the targeted vehicle as belonging to the taxi boss. Both victims died at the scene from gunshot wounds. No names have been released publicly at this stage, and no arrests have been reported.
This latest fatal shooting in Delft South follows closely on another deadly incident in the same suburb. On 12 March 2026, three taxi operators were shot dead at the Voorbrug taxi rank on Delft Main Road. Western Cape police confirmed that a white Toyota Quantum minibus stopped at the rank shortly after 06:15. Gunshots were fired from inside the vehicle at the victims, who were seated in a parked taxi. Two men, aged 55 and 58, were declared dead on the scene. A third victim, aged 38, was taken to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Police have stated the motive is believed to be linked to the taxi industry, and the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime unit is investigating three counts of murder.
The minibus taxi sector in Cape Town has recorded repeated outbreaks of violence tied to route control and association rivalries. In July 2021, conflict between operators from the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA) over the B97 route between Bellville and Paarl led to at least seven taxi drivers being killed in separate shooting incidents across the city.
In August 2023, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) declared a strike in the Western Cape. The action caused widespread transport disruptions and included reported acts of violence such as stonings and shootings targeting buses and other vehicles.
Broader historical data shows the scale of the problem. Following the rapid deregulation of the industry in the early 1990s, competition over routes and permits triggered what became known as the taxi wars. Records indicate that more than 2 000 people died and thousands more were injured in taxi-related violence across South Africa during the 1990s.
Extortion, control of lucrative routes, and disputes between rival associations continue to drive tensions in the Western Cape taxi industry. Delft and surrounding Cape Flats areas have been affected by these patterns, with shootings at ranks and on the road forming part of a documented cycle.
Police have not yet issued an official statement on the Sandelhout Street incident. Investigations into the double murder are ongoing.
