JUST IN: Ten killed in head-on collision between bus and taxi in Mpumalanga
· Citizen
Ten people have been killed in a head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a bus in Mpumalanga.
It is understood that the accident occurred on the R39 highway between Standerton and Morgenzon on Thursday morning
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All ten deceased were occupants of the minibus taxi, including the driver.
Eight people died at the scene, one died while being transported to the hospital, and another passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital in Standerton.
Picture: The Bulletin/FacebookInjuries
Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety spokesperson Moeti Mmusi said the cause of the accident is being investigated.
“At the time of the crash, the taxi was travelling from Morgenzon to Standerton, while the bus was reportedly travelling from Standerton to Morgenzon. The bus driver sustained minor injuries. One passenger in the bus escaped unharmed.
“Reports indicate that the road was misty at the time of the crash, which may have reduced visibility. It is not clear as to what led to the collision; however, reckless and negligent driving could not be ruled out at this stage,” Mmusi said.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, has sent condolences to the bereaved families and wished those who were injured a speedy recovery.
Winter
Meanwhile, as winter’s grip tightens across South Africa, road safety authorities have sounded an urgent alarm, warning that poor visibility, treacherous black ice, and rising pedestrian deaths could turn the season into a deadly gauntlet for motorists and pedestrians alike.
With pedestrians currently accounting for nearly half of all road fatalities nationwide, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), this winter’s road safety drive places a critical focus on protecting the most vulnerable road users.
Winter presents a unique and dangerous cocktail of hazards on South African roads. Late sunrises and early sunsets mean peak commuting hours now occur in twilight or complete darkness.
Human behaviour
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said this is compounded by regional weather threats, including dense morning mist and fog in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Limpopo and the Western Cape, as well as the treacherous threat of invisible black ice on the roads of the Free State and the Eastern Cape, and on high-altitude mountainous passes.