The province has finally released its Easter road accident report, which shows that 22 people died on North West’s roads during the long weekend.

The 22 include five youths who died when a Johannesburg-based lawyer, Mandla Gumbi, crashed into a group of 12 people in Ledig, near Sun City on April 1.

Capt Adele Myburgh said the deaths were recorded between March 27 and April 3. Last year, 19 people lost their lives during the same period.

“A total of 15 culpable homicide cases were opened and are under investigation,” she said. In some of the incidents, drivers lost control of their vehicles, resulting in crashes and loss of life.

“For instance, one person died after a motorist lost control of his vehicle at about 2am on the Lichtenburg/Coligny road on March 27 and nearly the same incident happened the following day at Mooinooi when another person was killed after a motorist lost control of the vehicle at about 4am,” she said.

An eight-year-old boy lost his life in Ipelegeng, Potchefstroom, when he fell off a trailer at about 4pm on March 28.

Myburgh added that two vehicles collided and three people died on the R501 road between Muiskraal and Klerkskraal at around 1am on March 28, bringing more concern to motorists travelling at night.

“This applies also to the incident in Stilfontein, near Klerksdorp, on March 30 where a motorist died after his vehicle left the road and hit a tree at about 11pm,” she said.

The issue of pedestrians dying on the roads also raised concern especially after the incident where five young people were killed early the morning of April 1 in Ledig.

Five other pedestrians lost their lives on the same day in other incidents.

“Some of the incidents include the one in Boitekong, near Rustenburg where a pedestrian died after being hit by a vehicle on the R510 road at about 8pm. Earlier, another pedestrian lost his life near Sun City after he was hit at about 6pm.

“Another incident was recorded along the N12 in Potchefstroom at about 8pm on the same day.

“Motorists should drive cautiously, rest every two hours and not exceed the speed limits. Alcohol or medication can also impair concentration.”