Overturned taxi claims lives

MPUMALANGA Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe is calling for cautious driving on roads. 

This after nine people were killed in two separate crashes on Saturday morning, 23 December.

He said the first crash happened when a sedan and Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) collided head-on on the N4 toll road near Vosman.

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"The deceased includes both drivers and one passenger. The SUV had two occupants, a male and a female. The victims were certified dead at the scene.

"In another crash, six people were killed at the scene when the mini-bus they were traveling in overturned on R38 Road between Barberton and Manzana early on Saturday. It is suspected that the driver may have lost control of the minibus and as a result, it overturned and rolled several times down the mountain," said Shongwe.

A minibus taxi collided head-on with a sedan, killing four people.

He said numerous people sustained injuries and were transported to the nearby Barberton Hospital.

"The minibus was pulling a trailer at the time of the crash. The minibus was ferrying people from Johannesburg to Mozambique.The two crashes are being investigated," he said.

Shongwe called on motorists to be calmer and avoid excessive speeding. He said those who are travelling long distances must rest sufficiently as fatigue kills. 

This blue minibus taxi killed six people after it overturned on the R38 Road between Manzana and Barberton, Mpumalanga.

"We have noted most deadly crashes occur at night and during the early morning hours. Some of these crashes, we believe, are attributable to fatigue. Therefore, motorists must rest sufficiently along the way when undertaking long journeys," he said. 

He also extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. 

Meanwhile, four people were killed when a minibus taxi and a light motor sedan collided head-on on the R23 Road between Val and Standerton on Saturday, 23 December. 

A minibus taxi collided head-on with a sedan, killing four people.

"The four were all occupants in the sedan. They included three adult males and one male child. They died at the scene of the crash," said Shongwe. 

He said the driver of the taxi and the sole occupant in the sedan were seriously injured. 

"The cause of the crash is still under investigation. However, dangerous overtaking cannot be ruled out," he said.