On the morning of Monday, 18 August, two unrelated road crashes in Mpumalanga resulted in the deaths of twelve people, with several others sustaining injuries.
The first crash took place on the R547 between Kinross and Kriel, where a sedan reportedly lost control and overturned. Four men, including the driver, were killed at the scene. Two additional passengers were seriously injured and transported to Evander Hospital for treatment.
Later the same morning, a second crash occurred on the N12 between Delmas and Emalahleni. An articulated truck, believed to have been adapted to transport farm workers, collided with another truck. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was in the process of picking up passengers. Eight people in total have died as a result of the crash — six on the scene, and two more who later passed away in hospital. Six others were seriously injured, while eleven passengers sustained minor injuries.
Emergency services responded to both scenes, and investigations into the causes of the crashes are currently underway.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr. Jackie Macie, has urged motorists to remain alert and follow traffic rules. He noted that the majority of road crashes continue to be linked to human error and driver behaviour. The MEC extended his condolences to the families affected and wished the injured a full recovery.