A number of fatal accidents characterised the high traffic volumes experienced in Limpopo as thousands of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) pilgrims travelled to Moria for the church’s September gathering over the weekend.
Department of Transport, Safety, Security and Liaison Spokesperson for Traffic Kagiso Mootane said traffic officials were deployed across the province, especially on roads where high traffic volumes were expected.
“The preliminary count is 15 lives lost on the roads during the weekend. We cannot provide a definite number as yet as we are still awaiting information from traffic stations and municipalities across the province,” Mootane said.
She said the most common causes for accidents are over speeding and reckless and negligent driving.
She informed of an accident on the N1 South between the Settlers and Codrington off-ramps where a bakkie and minibus taxi collided and both vehicles caught fire on Saturday.
Five people were injured but no fatalities reported. A tyre allegedly burst on the bakkie causing the driver to lose control.
“On Monday a bus overturned on the N1 North between Musina and Beit Bridge. Luckily only slight injuries were reported. The cause of the accident is still unknown,” Mootane said.
In another accident, also on Monday evening, a minibus taxi overturned on the N1 South between Mokopane and Mookgophong after a tyre burst and the driver lost control. “Eight passengers passed away on the scene while eight others were injured,” Mootane said.
Story: RC Myburgh
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Featured photo: A minibus taxi and bakkie caught fire after they collided on the N1 South on Saturday evening. (Photo: Supplied)
