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As South Africa welcomes yet another festive season, government encourages all citizens to take the necessary precautions to have a safe, joyous and happy holiday experience.

The festive season period is usually characterized by an increase in the number of people who use our roads to visit family, loved ones or travel to various holiday destinations. Road users are urged to exercise caution during this time, ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and obey speed limits and avoid drinking and driving. There will be high visibility of law enforcement patrols and traffic officials will not tolerate any violation of traffic regulations.

“Road safety is everyone’s business and together we can make our roads safer. Government calls on drivers to take responsibility for themselves and others while driving. We urge that all passengers wear seatbelts and children be put in child restraints or child seats,” said GCIS Acting Director General Phumla Williams.

Government appeals to parents and guardians to ensure that children are not left unattended at swimming pools or beaches. Williams added: “We urge parents to be vigilant when children are swimming at pools or beaches. The festive season is marked by an increase in crime incidents, drowning and injuries. We urge people to be alert and aware at all times when on holiday or during leisure moments. Let us not become victims of crime."

Government wishes all South Africans and visitors a relaxing and safer festive season and encourages them to use this time to kick-start a healthier lifestyle. “While we enjoy our festive season, we can also look forward to the coming year wherein all South Africans are encouraged to continue to build a shared future which embraces a common national identity. We can be the generation that builds a better future where we aim to maximize the things we have in common and minimize that which divide us,” said Williams.

Issued by Government Communication and Information System