JOHANNESBURG, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Twenty two people have been killed in road accidents in South Africa over the Easter holiday, the country's Ministry of Transport said on Sunday.

According to South African Press Association, the ministry's Spokesman Logan Maistry said six people were killed on the R63 between Pearston and Somerset East in the Eastern Cape, five people were killed between Warden and Roadside in the Free State and seven others were killed on Moloto Road in Pretoria in Gauteng. All of these accidents happened on Thursday.

Another four people were killed on the N1 near Colesburg in the Northern Cape on Friday.

"We want to convey our condolences to the families and relatives of all those killed in road crashes over the past few days. We wish those injured a speedy recovery," Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said in the statement.

He said hundreds of motorists have been arrested and more than a thousand unroadworthy vehicles have been removed from the countries roads over the weekend.

"214 drivers were arrested for drinking and driving and 29 drivers for other offences," said Maistry.