In a tragic accident on the morning of April 1st, 2023, eight people lost their lives on the N1 northbound towards Musina, just before Baobab Tollgate in Vhembe District.
Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety (LDTCS) spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene said the accident occurred at approximately 5:00 am when a minibus taxi allegedly overtook unsafely on a barrier line and collided head-on with a light delivery vehicle.
The fatalities include five men and three women, while eight other individuals sustained injuries and were transported to nearby health facilities for medical attention.
The road is currently temporarily closed as emergency services attend to the scene, and motorists are advised to use alternative routes or exercise patience if unable to change their route.
Florence Radzilani, Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased.
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“We are deeply saddened by the news and pray for the departed and the families they leave behind. We also pray for the healing of those who sustained injuries in the accident,” she said.
Radzilani also highlighted that the Easter long weekend is approaching, which will see a heightened presence of motor vehicles on the roads as people travel to different parts of the Province to spend time with their families.
She emphasized the importance of responsible driving, stating that reckless driving, overtaking at unsafe spots, over-speeding, overloading, and drunk driving are the leading causes of road accidents and fatalities.
“The responsibility for road safety lies with all of us as individual drivers. We are, therefore, continuing as a department to make a clarion call to motorists to become part of the road safety crusade and be responsible road users at all times for all to arrive alive,” said Radzilani.
