Liezl Liebenberg

Bloemfontein - The festive season death toll on the nation's roads has risen to 1 300. The Road Traffic Management Corporation's Ashref Ismail, says the main causes for the road fatalities are excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and walking while drunk.  He says road traffic officials remain on high alert.

Meanwhile, hundreds of cyclists took to the road in Bloemfontein this morning to highlight the cycling safety issue. Ride For Burry ride-alongs are taking place across the country today after the death of mountain biking legend, Burry Stander, at Shelley Beach on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast last week. Stander died after being struck by a minibus taxi as he was returning from training. OFM General Manager, Nick Efsthatiou, says around 650 people took part in the ride this morning. Stander was, amongst others, the first winner of the MTN OFM Classic Mountain Bike race in Bloemfontein in 2009.

Meanwhile, police have confirmed that the driver of the taxi that was allegedly involved in the incident will appear in the Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court on Monday. He faces a charge of culpable homocide.