Cape Town – A horrific motor vehicle accident on Robert Sobukwe Road in Belhar claimed the lives of three female commuters on Wednesday morning, 5 March. The collision, which occurred between Radnor Street and Symphony Way, also left 11 people injured, who were subsequently transported to a nearby hospital.
The Western Cape police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, and the City of Cape Town Traffic Services confirmed the incident, which took place at approximately 08:30 near the University of the Western Cape's (UWC) Bellville campus.
According to Swartbooi, Bellville South police responded to an emergency alert and upon arriving at the scene on Robert Sobukwe Road, they discovered a Toyota Quantum and a Kia involved in a collision. "Further investigation revealed the bodies of three females who had sustained fatal injuries. The victims were declared dead on the scene by the medical personnel," Swartbooi told TygerBurger.
The details of the injuries sustained by the 11 individuals transported to hospital remain unknown at this time.
Bellville South police have registered a case of culpable homicide for further investigation. Swartbooi confirmed that no arrests have been made thus far. "We appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or, alternatively, to use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously," he urged.
The incident resulted in significant traffic congestion on Robert Sobukwe Road between Radnor Street and Symphony Way, as emergency services worked to attend to the scene. The road was temporarily closed to allow for the necessary investigations and cleanup operations.
Graphic Video Circulates Online
A disturbing video of the accident scene has been circulating on crime groups and social media platforms. The footage depicts the Toyota Quantum severely damaged, lying on its side against a fence on the pavement. Two bodies can be seen in the video, one lying on the ground next to the pavement with their face covered in blood, and another in close proximity to the scene.
The blue Kia involved in the collision is visible metres away from the Quantum. The vehicle is also heavily damaged, having crashed against the pavement. Individuals can be seen in the video attempting to assist the driver of the Kia.
Community Reacts
The tragic accident has elicited strong reactions from the community. Bella Bantom commented on a Facebook post, saying: "Rest in peace to my aunt and to those who lost their lives this morning. We have a lot of questions why but only God knows best. Condolences from my family to yours."
Another Facebook user, Angela Goliath, expressed concerns about the behaviour of taxi drivers, stating: "They (taxis) are driving recklessly forcing other road users off the road, overtaking anywhere. (They) pass you on your left side and even climb pavements to get past you. They are a danger to themselves and other law-abiding road users."
When contacted for comment, Mandla Hermanus, the Western Cape spokesperson for the Western Cape South African Taxi Council (Santaco), stated that they were not yet aware of the accident.
The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing. The police are appealing to any witnesses to come forward with information that may assist in their investigation.
