Knowing the Rules of the Road: Why South African Pedestrians Must Prioritise Safety

In South Africa, pedestrians remain one of the most vulnerable groups on our roads. Recent statistics from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) show that pedestrians account for around 45-47% of all road fatalities in many reporting periods, with figures often hovering near 41% during festive seasons. In the 2025/26 festive period, collisions involving pedestrians featured prominently among the leading causes of crashes and deaths, particularly in major urban centres like Johannesburg, Cape Town, eThekwini, and Tshwane. Young adults aged 25-44 are disproportionately affected, and many incidents occur due to jaywalking, poor visibility at night, alcohol impairment, or simply failing to cross safely.1

These numbers are not just statistics — they represent families, workers, and community members lost while walking to taxis, schools, shops, or home. The good news is that many of these tragedies are preventable through basic knowledge of road rules and responsible behaviour.

Legal Responsibilities of Pedestrians Under the National Road Traffic Act

South African law, governed by the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) and its regulations, clearly outlines pedestrian duties:

Use sidewalks where available: If a pavement or footpath exists next to the road, you must use it. Walking on the roadway is only permitted when crossing or for another valid reason.
Walk facing traffic on the roadside: Where no sidewalk exists, stay as close as possible to the right-hand edge of the road, facing oncoming vehicles. This allows you to see approaching traffic and react in time.
Cross only at safe, designated points: You may legally cross a public road at a marked pedestrian crossing (such as a zebra crossing), an intersection, or more than 50 metres away from the nearest crossing or intersection — but only when it is safe to do so. Jaywalking (crossing indiscriminately between crossings) is unsafe and often illegal in controlled areas.
Never linger or run suddenly: Once you start crossing, proceed briskly without stopping unnecessarily. Do not suddenly enter a crossing if a vehicle is too close to stop safely.
Obey traffic signals: At signalised crossings, wait for the green pedestrian light (the “little green man”) before crossing. Observe all traffic lights and signals.
Avoid freeways entirely: Pedestrians are prohibited from walking on freeways or their shoulders. Always use pedestrian bridges where provided.

Drivers have obligations too — they must yield to pedestrians at marked crossings and intersections — but as a pedestrian, you cannot assume every driver will stop. Your safety ultimately depends on your own vigilance.30

Practical Tips for Safe Crossing

Knowing when and where to cross can save your life:

Stop, look, and think: Before stepping off the kerb, stop at the edge. Look right, left, and right again. Listen for traffic, especially from behind or around obstacles like parked cars or taxis.
Choose marked crossings: Zebra crossings, traffic-light crossings with pedestrian signals, scholar patrols near schools, and pedestrian bridges are the safest options. At a zebra crossing, make eye contact with drivers if possible, but never assume they will stop — wait until traffic has clearly yielded.
Cross straight and briskly: Walk directly across the road (not diagonally) to minimise your time in the danger zone. Keep looking and listening while crossing.
Be extra cautious at bus/taxi stops: Avoid crossing directly in front of or behind stationary vehicles that block your view. Move to a clear section of road.
Visibility matters: Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially at night or in bad weather. Many fatalities occur after dark when drivers struggle to see pedestrians.
Avoid distractions and impairment: Put away your phone, remove headphones, and never cross while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Distracted or impaired pedestrians are far more likely to misjudge speeds and distances.

In rural areas or townships where infrastructure may be limited, these rules become even more critical. Walk facing traffic, use available crossings or intersections, and be patient — rushing across can have fatal consequences.

A Shared Responsibility for Safer Roads

Road safety is not only about enforcement or better infrastructure (though both are urgently needed). It starts with individual responsibility. Pedestrians who know and follow the rules reduce their risk dramatically and help create a culture where drivers expect and respect people on foot.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders play a key role in teaching children these habits early. Simple actions — like modelling “stop, look, listen” — can protect the next generation.

As South Africans, we share the roads. Drivers: slow down in pedestrian-heavy areas, especially at night and near schools or taxi ranks. Pedestrians: respect the rules, stay visible, and cross only when safe.

By understanding and applying these basic rules of the road, we can honour those lost and prevent future tragedies. Your life — and the lives of those waiting for you at home — is worth the extra few seconds it takes to cross safely.

Stay alert. Stay visible. Stay alive.

This article is for educational purposes and draws on official road safety guidelines from the RTMC, Arrive Alive, and the National Road Traffic Act. Always consult the latest regulations or local traffic authorities for specific advice.

Tembisa Taxi Driver Arrested After Fatal Crash on Brian Mazibuko Drive

Tembisa South SAPS has arrested a taxi driver who was operating a white Toyota Quantum without a driver’s licence following a fatal accident that claimed the life of a female passenger.

The incident occurred on Wednesday around 12:30 on Brian Mazibuko Drive near the Welamlambo Section in Tembisa. According to police, the vehicle was travelling in reverse at high speed when it came from the Jiyane Section, showing clear signs of losing control and having no brakes.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing people screaming as passengers jumped from the moving taxi in an attempt to escape. The vehicle came to a stop after the driver lost control, leaving one female passenger lying on the ground. Paramedics who arrived at the scene declared her deceased on the spot.

Four other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby clinic for medical attention. The body of the deceased woman was transported to the Germiston Mortuary.

The driver has been charged with culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving, and driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s licence. He was arrested at the scene and is expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.

Sergeant Kate Selepe, Crime Prevention and Communications Officer at Tembisa South Police Station, issued a statement on behalf of Station Commander Colonel Pero confirming the details of the arrest and investigation.

“According to the eyewitness, she saw a white Toyota Quantum coming from Jiyane Section. The taxi was coming in reverse at a high speed showing signs of losing control and not having brakes,” Selepe said. “People were screaming and jumping out of the moving vehicle.”

Police have not released the names of the driver or the deceased at this stage. The investigation remains ongoing.

22-Year-Old Man Arrested in Tsakane for Possession of Stolen Nissan NP200

TSAKANE – Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Tsakane Precinct officers arrested a 22-year-old male suspect on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, at approximately 11:00 for possession of a stolen vehicle.

According to police, officers received information about a Nissan NP200 that had been stolen in the early hours of the same morning in the Crystal Park area. The vehicle was later spotted being driven in Tsakane.

Officers immediately tracked the vehicle matching the description and intercepted it at the corner of Vlakfontein and Siphiwe Street. The suspect was apprehended at the scene.

A subsequent investigation confirmed that the Nissan NP200 had indeed been stolen in Crystal Park.

During questioning, the suspect told officers that a friend had given him the vehicle and instructed him to drive it to Nigel. He also informed police that the vehicle had a canopy and led them to an address on Malume Street, where the canopy was successfully recovered.

The 22-year-old suspect was arrested and detained at Tsakane Police Station. He is expected to appear in the Tsakane Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.

Three Farmers Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Premeditated Murder of Farm Dweller

Pretoria – The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, has sentenced three farmers to life imprisonment each after convicting them of the premeditated murder of Dumisani Phakathi, a farm dweller.

Jaco Wessels Kemp, 36, Louise Coetzee, 29, and Gert Frederik van der Westhuizen, 38, received the maximum sentence. The court also declared all three unfit to possess firearms and ordered them to surrender every firearm, all ammunition, licences, authorisations and permits to the investigating officer.

The murder took place on 16 September 2023 at a chicken farm in Mamokgalieskraal. At about 16:00 that afternoon the three were holding a braai when they noticed Phakathi walking past the farm gate. He was on his way to collect water from a nearby furrow that community members regularly used as a water source.

The three approached Phakathi and assaulted him. They then dragged him into a storage facility on the farm, where the assault continued until he died from his injuries.

In the early hours of 17 September 2023, at approximately 02:00, police stopped Kemp and Coetzee during a routine stop-and-search operation on the R511 towards Brits. The pair were driving a bakkie loaded with black refuse bags. Officers noticed human legs protruding from under the bags. A search revealed the bloodied body of Phakathi, his head covered in plastic. Kemp and Coetzee were arrested at the scene.

Van der Westhuizen handed himself over to police on 19 September 2023 after investigators linked him to the offence.

All three accused pleaded not guilty and attempted to shift blame onto one another. State Prosecutor Advocate Lawrence More presented evidence from State witnesses that proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

During mitigation of sentence, the accused asked the court to depart from the prescribed minimum sentence. They cited the time already spent in custody since their arrest and the fact that they have children to support. Advocate More argued against any leniency, stating that the three had killed Phakathi for no reason. He described the attack as inhumane and cruel, noting that the perpetrators placed the body in rubbish bags in an attempt to dump it.

Advocate More also read victim impact statements into the record. The sister of the deceased stated that she no longer trusts white people because of the incident.

In delivering sentence, the judge found that the accused showed no remorse. He noted there was no apparent reason for the killing and concluded that it was racially motivated.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the life sentences and repeated its commitment to ensuring accountability for violent crimes, particularly those committed against vulnerable members of society.