Latest news with #SimonZwane
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
RTMC reports 15 fatalities in weekend crashes, warns against reckless driving
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged motorists to exercise caution and show respect on the roads following a devastating weekend of accidents that claimed fifteen lives in head-on collisions. Image: City of Cape Town The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has raised alarm over a devastating weekend on South African roads, during which fifteen people lost their lives in three separate crashes since Thursday. Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane says that the corporation is deeply concerned about the high number of road fatalities this weekend. Reckless and negligent driving is suspected in all three incidents, as each involved a head-on collision. The most recent crash occurred on Sunday night, on the N18 approximately 40km from Mahikeng to Setlagole in the Ngaka Modire Molema District, North West Province. Two vehicles collided head-on, killing four people at the scene. The body of one of the victims was discovered when fire emergency vehicles were booked into the South African Police Service pound for safekeeping. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ On Friday, five people lost their lives in the same province when four vehicles were involved in a multiple car crash on the N4 between Swartruggens and Groot Marico. 'It is alleged that one vehicle collided with another. Two other vehicles also crashed into each other at the scene,' said Zwane. On Thursday, five more people, including a toddler, died when a light delivery vehicle that was being chased by the police crashed head-on into another light delivery vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on the N18 in Hartswater, Northern Cape. 'The RTMC reiterates its call to motorists to exercise caution on the roads and show respect to each other and to law enforcement officers,' Zwane said. IOL News
IOL News
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
South Africa's schools embrace road safety education for a safer future
Road safety education is now integrated into the newly launched Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12. This initiative, led by the Department of Basic Education and funded by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and other partners, aims to enhance public safety among South Africa's youth. Image: Supplied In a significant stride for public safety and education, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has announced the integration of road safety education into South African schools. The project has been a collaborative effort, led by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and funding partner RTMC, among others. Road safety will become a formal part of the national curriculum with this landmark development. This monumental step was celebrated on June 13, 2025, with the launch of new Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12 by the DBE. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said this milestone represents a game changer in the national effort to reduce road fatalities and promote responsible road use among future generations. 'By embedding road safety education into the curriculum, South Africa takes a significant step toward institutionalising life-saving knowledge and cultivating a culture of road safety from a young age,' he said. In 2017, the RTMC began its mission to integrate structured and effective road safety education into schools, acknowledging the critical necessity for such content. Zwane noted that while the RTMC does not specialise in education, its expertise in road safety has shaped the development of relevant content aligned with the National Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). Through this initiative, RTMC said pupils from Grades 4 to 12 will gain essential knowledge, values, and skills that not only enhance their safety but also empower them to influence their families and communities. Teacher training and content contextualisation have also been prioritised to ensure the material is engaging and relevant to diverse learner groups. RTMC CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi, said this inclusion ensures that road safety education is not treated as a once-off campaign but becomes part of the national consciousness, embedded in the values and knowledge of every pupil. 'We are extremely proud to see road safety formally introduced into classrooms across the country,' said Msibi. The RTMC said it is committed to supporting the rollout, teacher training, and long-term sustainability of this vital intervention. 'We believe that road safety education at the school level lays the foundation for a safer, more responsible road-using public — ultimately saving lives.' During the launch of the textbook series, consisting of 21 books and teacher guides, the department said other funding partners include the Road Accident Fund, South African Human Rights Commission, South African Sugar Association, Railway Safety Regulator, UNICEF, Eskom, Nestlé, and Momentum Metropolitan Holdings. Road safety education is now integrated into the newly launched Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12. Image: Supplied Dr Patricia Watson, chief director for social inclusion and partnerships at the DBE, said these textbooks are more than just learning materials; 'they are roadmaps to self-discovery and empowerment'. Deputy Education Minister Reginah Mhaule said the textbook series empowers pupils to connect with their futures and make a positive difference in their own lives and society. 'It helps children and adolescents make informed choices about health, nutrition, safety, mental well-being, sexuality, physical fitness, and technology. 'These textbooks also guide them in managing their emotions, maintaining healthy relationships, and understanding their civic responsibilities under South Africa's laws and Constitution,' said Mhaule.
IOL News
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
923 killed last June - RTMC warns youth ahead of long weekend
The Road Traffic Management Corporation urges young drivers to reduce speed, avoid drinking and driving, and maintain safe distances this Youth Month The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged young people to exercise extreme caution on South Africa's roads as the Youth Day long weekend and school winter holidays approach. In a road safety awareness drive launched this June, the RTMC is calling on youth to take active steps to protect their lives and those of others during a period historically marked by high road fatality rates. Over the past four years, road fatalities during June have averaged 1,044 deaths annually. Although fatalities decreased to 833 in June 2023, this figure climbed again to 923 in 2024. "Worryingly, trends show that young people aged 20 to 39 make up more than half of daily road crash fatalities in South Africa", the RTMC said in a statement. RTMC spokesperson, Simon Zwane, warns that "the most common type of crash relates to accidents with pedestrians, hit and run type of accidents and single vehicle overturn and head on collisions", trends they are working to change drastically.
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
RTMC warns motorists en route Comrades to drive safe
RTMC says law enforcement officials will ensure motorists experience minimal to no incidents over the weekend. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged motorists travelling to the Comrades Marathon this weekend to exercise extreme caution given the icy weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service (Saws). The 95th instalment of the race – which is a downhill run – will take place in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Sunday, starting from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Conditions on the N3 As runners and supporters make their way to KZN, RTMC chief communication officer Simon Zwane warns the N3 road between Johannesburg and Durban could be affected by misty conditions around Van Reenan Pass to Hilton. 'The Harrismith and Pietermaritzburg areas usually experience dense mist around this time of the year, and motorists are urged to be cautious as traffic volumes are expected to peak on the N3 from [Friday] and on Sunday when most runners will be returning,' Zwane said in a statement. 'Law enforcement authorities from Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, including the National Traffic Police (NTP) from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and key road safety stakeholders such as [the N3 Toll Route], will ensure that motorists experience minimal to no incidents heading to the Comrades Marathon,' Zwane added. On Thursday, the weather service warned of a spell of extreme weather starting this weekend, with snowfall possible in all provinces except Limpopo. ALSO READ: Comrades Marathon: Top five men's and women's contenders Icy weather across SA 'In the coming days, a particularly intense Cut-Off Low (COL) system, associated with severe and extreme winter weather, is expected to affect South Africa, persisting over the country until at least the middle of next week over the eastern provinces,' Saws said. Runners can expect predominantly mild to warm and windy conditions, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies on Sunday. However, they should be aware of a cool change in the weather later in the day, introducing colder, more moist conditions to the coast and adjacent interior. The RTMC urges motorists to: Obey all road traffic rules and regulations Exercise patience at traffic operations and construction sites on the N3 route Be prepared and polite when stopped by law enforcement authorities NOW READ: OPINION: Comrades queen Gerda Steyn faces a battle against Irvette van Zyl
TimesLIVE
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
'Winter roads can be deadly': RTMC warns drivers during Youth Month
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged drivers, particularly young people, to be responsible and vigilant on the roads as winter arrives with snow and bad weather in parts of the country. In the past four years, fatalities during June, Youth Month, averaged 1,044 a year. 'We urge young people to be responsible and save lives by reducing speed and avoiding drunk driving, especially on weekends between 5pm to 9pm when most fatalities occur,' said RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane. According to the RTMC there were 923 road fatalities in June last year. 'We urge young people to check their vehicle tyres and ensure they have [a] tread depth of [at least] 1.6mm, as grip starts to reduce under 3mm,' Zwane said.
