Seven people, including a twelve-year-old child, perished and five others sustained serious injuries in a horrific minibus taxi crash on the N3 toll road near Villiers, Mpumalanga, on Monday morning.
The accident, which occurred around 5:00 am, approximately 10km north of Villiers in the Grootvlei area, involved a single Toyota minibus taxi that overturned multiple times. The vehicle was travelling from Gauteng towards KwaZulu-Natal.
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane confirmed the incident: "One Toyota minibus taxi was involved in a single vehicle, overturned-type-crash that resulted in seven fatalities and five injured persons. RTMC crash investigation Unit members are en-route to the scene," he stated.
The injured passengers were swiftly transported to the nearby Frankfort Hospital in the Free State. Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Jackie Macie, expressed profound sorrow at the loss of life.
"It is deeply saddening to see such an abrupt end to other people's lives when they were supposed to celebrate the holiday season with their loved ones. All road users must always prioritise their lives and that of others by being extremely cautious," he added, extending his wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, but MEC Macie stressed the importance of caution on the roads, particularly during the festive season and in low-visibility conditions.
"The cause of the crash remains unclear at the moment, however, the investigation is already under way," Macie said.
He reiterated his earlier calls for responsible driving: "The MEC again urged motorists to use the roads with great caution and to always adjust their driving in accordance with prevailing conditions on the road, especially at night when visibility was reduced."
The tragedy underscores the ongoing concerns surrounding road safety in South Africa, despite numerous nationwide campaigns promoting safe driving practices.
The department's Moeti Mmusi highlighted this ongoing challenge: "Reacting to the crash, MEC for community safety security and liaison, Mr Jackie Macie, again urged motorists to use the road with great caution at all times. He added that they must always adjust their driving in accordance with the prevailing conditions on the road especially when visibility is reduced."
The sheer number of road fatalities continues to rise, despite these ongoing efforts.
The accident has caused significant traffic disruptions on the N3 towards KwaZulu-Natal. Traffic is being diverted via the Dasville Interchange to rejoin the N3 Toll Route at the Vereeniging Interchange.
"Traffic is being diverted, there is the 103 and also other routes," explained an official.
The impact of this diversion on travel times to KwaZulu-Natal is substantial, adding to the already difficult conditions for travellers during the busy festive season.
