Archbishop Sipuka urges road safety ahead of Easter weekend

As South Africans prepare for the busy Easter long weekend, the President of the South African Council of Churches, Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, has issued a strong call for road safety.

While welcoming improved statistics from the Arrive Alive campaign, showing a drop in road fatalities from 307 in 2024 to 167 in 2025, the archbishop said one life lost is one too many.

He stressed that most of these deaths are caused by reckless behaviour, avoidable accidents and urged South Africans to work towards eliminating road fatalities entirely.

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Archbishop Sipuka has reflected on the meaning of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of life.

He said transport should support human dignity, helping people reach work, access healthcare and education, worship, and connect with loved ones.

However, he warned that reckless driving, unsafe public transport practices, and careless pedestrian behaviour, especially under the influence of alcohol, turn roads into scenes of tragedy, undermining the very message of Easter.

He appealed to all South Africans to act responsibly, prioritise safety, and ensure that this Easter season is one of life, not loss.