News24 | Baby among 12 killed in two separate road accidents in Gauteng and Northern Cape

In KwaZulu-Natal, two people were killed, and 14 others were injured on Saturday following an accident involving several vehicles in Umhlanga, north of Durban.

• Twelve people, including a baby, have been killed in two separate road accidents.
• In the Western Cape, more than 20 people died in road accidents in just one week.
• Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, is set to give an update on festive season road safety plans in the coming week.

Traffic authorities have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads over the festive season after 12 people, including a baby, were killed in two separate accidents in Gauteng and the Northern Cape.

Seven people, including a baby, were killed after a head-on collision between an SUV and a light delivery vehicle on the N12, between Kimberley and Warrenton on Saturday.

In another incident on Saturday, three people died on the scene following a head-on collision between two cars on the N12 in Fochville, Gauteng. Two other passengers later died in hospital, according to Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

He said the RTMC was working with the police to investigate the factors that may have contributed to the accidents.

Gauteng police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said a case of culpable homicide had been opened.

“No one has been arrested and police investigations are under way,” she added.

READ | 28 deaths in one week: Western Cape authorities appeal for safer festive season driving

Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, two people were killed and 14 others were injured on Saturday following an accident involving several vehicles in Umhlanga, north of Durban.

According to ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson, the accident led to a road closure.

Last week, News24 reported that more than 20 people, including 12 pedestrians, were killed in the Western Cape in separate road accidents.

Transport department spokesperson Collen Msibi told News24 that he could not confirm the number of road accidents that had taken place since the start of the festive season.

“The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, will be holding a media briefing to give an update on the festive season road safety plans.”