* Thirteen people, including a young girl aged about seven, have been killed in a devastating collision on the R81 near Ga-Sekgopo outside Mooketsi in Limpopo.
The crash, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, involved a minibus taxi and two trucks and has been described as one of the deadliest accidents on the route in recent months. Authorities confirmed that all the deceased were occupants of the minibus taxi, including the driver.
According to officials at the scene, the victims were travelling from a church service in Solomondale to Magoro village outside Giyani when the tragedy struck. Emergency services worked through the afternoon to recover bodies and attend to survivors. Several people sustained serious injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals.
Cause of Crash Under Investigation
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear at this stage. However, early indications and witness accounts suggest that the rear truck may have been unable to stop in time, slamming into the taxi and pushing it into another truck ahead.
Video footage captured shortly after the crash shows tyre marks on the road, raising the possibility of brake failure or a mechanical problem — although this has not been confirmed.
The R81 remained closed for several hours as authorities worked to clear the wreckage and investigate the scene. Police have since opened a case and launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
* Correction: This article has been updated with new information confirming that 13 people, not six as previously reported, were killed in the collision. SA Trucker regrets the earlier error and has corrected the details accordingly.
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