Two people have been killed and one injured in a crash on the N1 national road outside Polokwane on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, as South Africa's Easter long weekend travel peak began in earnest. The collision forced authorities to divert southbound traffic via the Nyl Toll Plaza off-ramp and the R101 route through Polokwane, causing significant delays for holiday travellers.
Gauteng Traffic Police confirmed that operations have been intensified across all major high-traffic routes ahead of the long weekend. Road users are urged to remain patient, obey the rules of the road, and avoid driving while fatigued or under the influence of alcohol. The RTMC (Road Traffic Management Corporation) is deploying additional traffic officials across the country's most dangerous routes.
The Easter weekend — which runs from Good Friday on April 3 through to Family Day on April 6 — is one of the most dangerous periods on South African roads. The RTMC recorded 68 road deaths over the 2025 Easter period, a figure that authorities are determined to reduce this year through heightened enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
Separately, the South African Police Service (SAPS) executed a search-and-seizure operation at the home of Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, a police officer accused of dishonesty and non-cooperation before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into police corruption. Nkosi is alleged to have served as an intermediary between organised crime bosses and government officials. The raid followed the recent arrest of 12 senior SAPS officers linked to a multi-million-rand tender fraud involving alleged crime boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) confirmed that all 71 ports of entry remain fully operational for the Easter weekend, with enhanced personnel deployed at Beitbridge, Lebombo, and Oshoek border posts, which are historically the busiest crossing points during holiday periods.
South Africans travelling this Easter are urged to check weather conditions along planned routes, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, carry sufficient water and supplies for long journeys, and travel during daylight hours where possible. The emergency services number is 10177 and the SAPS emergency number is 10111.
