A devastating road accident involving two minibus taxis and two small vehicles claimed the lives of six people on Tuesday afternoon, 3 March, along the D19 road near Seshego Cross in Limpopo. The tragic incident has once again raised concerns about reckless driving and road safety on South Africa’s busy roads.
According to reports, the collision occurred when one of the minibus taxis allegedly attempted to overtake another vehicle while facing oncoming traffic. The dangerous manoeuvre resulted in a head-on collision that left six people dead at the scene. The victims included four men and two women.
In addition to the fatalities, several others were injured in the crash. Emergency services reported that two people sustained serious injuries and were rushed to hospital for urgent medical treatment. Four other individuals suffered minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety confirmed the incident and said preliminary investigations suggest that risky overtaking may have caused the deadly crash. Department spokesperson Matome Tauatsoala said early reports indicate that one of the taxis tried to pass another vehicle while vehicles were approaching from the opposite direction.
“Reports indicate that one of the minibuses was attempting to overtake while facing oncoming vehicles, which resulted in a collision,” Tauatsoala explained.
A witness who survived the accident, David Sethole, shared his account of what happened. Sethole said he was driving his NP200 bakkie along the road when the accident occurred. According to him, a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi was speeding and suddenly began overtaking other vehicles on the road.
He explained that two vehicles coming from the opposite direction managed to avoid the taxi by moving out of its path. However, another Quantum taxi traveling behind them could not avoid the situation, which resulted in a devastating head-on collision.
“The two oncoming vehicles were able to avoid the taxi, but the other Quantum couldn’t. That’s when they collided head-on,” Sethole said.
The Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye, said the department is still waiting for a full and final report to determine exactly what caused the accident and who may be responsible.
“At this stage we cannot say who was at fault. We are waiting for the final investigation report,” Mathye said.
She also extended her condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the crash. Mathye said the loss of life on the province’s roads remains a major concern for authorities.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish those who were injured a speedy recovery,” she added.
Due to the severity of the crash, the D19 road was temporarily closed to allow emergency responders, traffic officers, and police to manage the scene and clear the wreckage. Traffic was later allowed to resume once the area was deemed safe.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution and obey road safety rules, particularly when overtaking. Reckless driving continues to be one of the leading causes of fatal accidents on South African roads.
About the Author
