The accidents from Friday (11/7) until Sunday across multiple major routes have raised concerns about road safety and driver behaviour.

The first accident was recorded on Friday on the N14 near Tshing in Ventersdorp, where one person lost their life in an incident still under investigation.

Devastating head-on collision

At approximately 18:00 that evening, a devastating head-on collision involving four vehicles occurred on the N4 near Groot Marico. Two delivery vehicles from the same company, being driven in tandem while towing each other, were travelling toward Swartruggens when they allegedly attempted to overtake on a barrier line.

This resulted in a collision with two oncoming vehicles, where five people, including four women and one man who were in the two oncoming vehicles, died at the scene. The four occupants of the delivery vehicles, identified as three Zimbabwean nationals and one Malawian, were hospitalised with injuries. Their identities are yet to be confirmed.

The following day, a hit-and-run on the N12 outside Potchefstroom in the direction of Stilfontein, which claimed another life, was reported. Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in tracking down the vehicle involved in the incident.

On Sunday evening, at around 19:00, another head-on collision occurred on the N18, approximately 40 km south of Mahikeng, near Setlagole. A light sedan carrying three occupants was reportedly overtaking when it crashed into an oncoming light delivery vehicle.

All four people involved, three men and one woman, were declared dead at the scene.

Child died at the scene

In a separate incident just further up the road near Madiba a Makgabana village, a vehicle en route to Mahikeng struck a stray cow. A second vehicle following closely behind, ran over the carcass, causing it to overturn. Three occupants of the second vehicle sustained serious injuries, while a child travelling with them died at the scene.

Police have opened cases of culpable homicide in connection with each of the accidents, said Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson Oshebeng Koonyaditse.

The department has extended its heartfelt condolences to the families affected by these tragedies and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg