Residents Block N2 on Anniversary of Horrific Pongola Crash that Claimed 20 Pupils

Pongola residents took to the streets early this morning, 16 September 2025, to commemorate the third anniversary of the infamous crash that claimed 20 young lives on the N2 near the town.

Locals blocked the busy route, bringing traffic to a standstill, as they remembered the children, a teacher, and their driver who were killed in September 2022 when a reckless truck driver ploughed into their overloaded bakkie.

The tragedy shocked the entire country and exposed just how dangerous the stretch of road between Pongola and Piet Retief had become.

The crash, on 16 September 2022, happened when truck driver Sibusiso Siyaya overtook recklessly on a solid line for more than a kilometre, slamming head-on into the light delivery vehicle ferrying pupils home from school.

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All 20 occupants of the bakkie perished instantly. Siyaya fled the scene but was later arrested.

In May 2024, Siyaya was convicted on 20 counts of murder, reckless and negligent driving, and failing to perform the duties of a driver after an accident. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and his driver’s licence was permanently cancelled.

The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department and the NPA both hailed the judgment as historic, saying it should serve as a stern warning to reckless drivers across the country.

Watch: Horrific Dashcam Footage Leads to Siyaya’s Conviction for Pongola Crash Murders

Residents say despite the conviction, little has changed on the ground. Heavy trucks continue to dominate the road, and reckless overtaking is still a daily sight.

Community leader Thulani Mthembu, speaking at the blockade, said: “We are not here just to mourn our children; we are here to demand action. Trucks are still speeding, drivers are still reckless, and nothing has been done to protect us. We want more traffic cops on this stretch every day, not just after a tragedy.”

By 10h15, the N2 was reopened to traffic after police and community leaders engaged with the protesters.

Locals insist the fight is not over – they want a safer road, more patrols, and visible policing to ensure the 20 souls lost in 2022 did not die in vain.