A well-known Knysna doctor and his practice manager have been identified as the two people killed in a head-on collision on the N2 near White Bridge on Friday morning.
Dr Johann Viljoen and Charl Steenekamp were travelling in a Ford Everest when it collided head-on with a Bitou Municipality Waste Management truck at about 7.30am.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies, the two occupants of the Ford sustained serious injuries and were declared dead at the scene.
The driver of the municipal truck also sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital by ambulance.
Police said the Waste Management truck was travelling towards Mossel Bay, while the Ford Everest was travelling towards Knysna when the collision occurred.
The crash resulted in the closure of the N2 and caused significant traffic congestion in the area as emergency services attended to the scene.
The identities of the deceased have since been confirmed, with their deaths prompting an outpouring of grief from the Knysna community and healthcare sector.
Viljoen was a specialist physician who had worked in private practice for decades before moving to Knysna in 2008. He became a familiar and respected figure in the local healthcare community.
Steenekamp was the practice manager at Viljoen’s medical practice and had worked alongside him since 1995. The pair moved to Knysna together in 2008.
Tributes have described both men as dedicated healthcare professionals who made a significant contribution to the community.
DA Knysna Constituency Chairperson Levael Davis said the two men had dedicated their lives to providing quality healthcare to people in Knysna and surrounding areas.
“Their compassion, and unwavering commitment to those in their care will not be forgotten,” Davis said.
Tributes have also been shared by colleagues and members of the community, who remembered Viljoen for his warmth, humour and personal care towards his patients and those around him.
Meanwhile, Knysna detectives have opened a culpable homicide docket and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
The exact cause of the crash has not yet been established.
The truck driver remains in hospital receiving medical treatment.
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