A devastating accident on the N3 highway near Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, has left five people dead and thirteen others injured after a minibus taxi plunged down a steep embankment. The crash, which took place just after the Mariannhill Toll Plaza on Friday, has sent shockwaves through the community and raised urgent concerns about road safety.
According to emergency service provider ALS Paramedics, the incident occurred when a taxi collided with a Volkswagen Polo before veering off the road and rolling 60 to 70 meters down an embankment. The taxi was reportedly headed towards Pietermaritzburg at the time of the accident.
Responding to the emergency, a multi-agency team including ALS Paramedics, Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue, the eThekwini Fire Department, and Mobiclaw quickly arrived at the scene. First responders established a triage area to manage the high number of casualties. Despite their best efforts, five people—four women and one man—were pronounced dead on the scene.
One of the deceased has been identified as a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS), who was reportedly in full uniform at the time of the crash.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Siboniso Duma, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “We are saddened by the death of five people in this accident caused by a Polo driver, just after the Mariannhill Tollgate. The recovery of the bodies has been completed. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” Duma said.
Thirteen other passengers sustained injuries that range from moderate to critical. Rescue teams worked tirelessly for more than three hours, using a rope system to lift the injured from the steep embankment to waiting ambulances. The injured were then transported to several hospitals across Durban for urgent medical care.
As the community mourns this tragic loss, questions are now being asked about what led to the deadly crash. Authorities from SAPS and the Road Traffic Inspectorate are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Officials are working to determine whether speeding, reckless driving, mechanical failure, or other factors may have played a role.
Duma added that efforts are underway to trace and notify the families of all the deceased. “We wish those in hospital a speedy recovery,” he said.
The tragedy adds to a string of recent fatal road accidents in KwaZulu-Natal, once again underscoring the critical need for improved road safety measures, stricter enforcement, and public awareness campaigns.
As investigations continue, South Africans are left reeling from yet another reminder of how quickly lives can be lost on the country’s roads. Families of the victims and the broader community now face the long road to healing, as they come to terms with this heartbreaking loss.
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