News24 | Eleven people killed in 3 Limpopo crashes since Christmas Eve

Six people died, and seven others were injured when a vehicle crashed into a bridge in the Waterberg District of Limpopo.

• Six people were killed and seven injured, two critically, when a vehicle crashed into a bridge on the R518 between Mokopane and Marken on Christmas Eve.
• Three people died on Christmas Day after a minibus taxi overturned on the R36 near Cape Vulture Lodge, allegedly while attempting an illegal overtake.
• Two drivers were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a bus on the N1 North near Masekwa Brick, bringing the death toll to nearly a dozen in two days.

Almost a dozen people have died on Limpopo’s roads over the past two days, including six who were killed in a single crash on Christmas Eve.

The six passengers were killed on the R518 between Mokopane and Marken in the Mogalakwena municipality in the Waterberg District. Seven others were injured in that crash and two of them are in a critical condition.

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Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Susani Violet Mathye said preliminary reports indicated that the driver had lost control of the vehicle before hitting a bridge.

Then, at about 07:30 on Christmas Day, three people died on the R36 near Cape Vulture Lodge when a minibus taxi travelling from Mashishing (Lydenburg) overturned, allegedly while attempting to illegally overtake a vehicle, causing the driver to lose control of the minibus. The driver and two passengers died at the scene. Two injured female passengers were taken to Sekororo Hospital for treatment.

Later in the day, a head-on collision between a truck and a bus on the N1 North, near Masekwa Brick, resulted in the deaths of both drivers. According to the department, the truck was travelling from the direction of Makhado and crossed a solid line while attempting to overtake, colliding with the oncoming bus. Three other people were injured.

“Christmas is meant for joy and family gatherings. Unfortunately, lives have been lost,” Mathye said.

“I convey my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish the injured a speedy recovery. I pray that the Lord comforts them during this difficult time.”

The department said additional traffic officers would be deployed to major routes to prevent further carnage, and urged all road users to be patient, obey traffic rules and avoid reckless driving.