By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The death toll of the head-on collision between an SUV and a bakkie on the M4, between Belfast and Machadodorp on Thursday, has risen to six.
Initially, the collision left three people injured, and five were identified as deceased at the scene.
Mpumalanga’s Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokersperson Moeti Mmusi says one of the injured victims has succumbed to serious injuries while being treated at a hospital in Belfast.
“The crash occurred when a sports utility vehicle and a bakkie collided yesterday afternoon, leading to the closure of the road for hours. This negatively affected road users who spent hours stuck in traffic, and others had to use alternative routes that they were not familiar with,” said Mmusi.
Although Mmusi says that negligence and reckless driving cannot be ruled out, the police are investigating the crash.
Mmusi appealed to motorists to drive with caution and follow the rules of the road amid the unfavourable weather conditions.
The number of road fatalities over Easter weekend in 2024 was 335 – up 33 percent from 252 the previous year – while fatal crashes increased 14 percent from 207 to 236, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
Last month, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy launched of the 2025 Easter Season Road Safety Arrive Alive campaign, which started on 20 March and will run until 2 May 2025.
The objective of the campaign is not only to ensure smooth flows of traffic but also prevent negligent and reckless driving which could result in road crashes, injuries and fatalities.
The campaign is being held under the theme: “It begins with Me.”
“We chose this theme because driver and pedestrian behaviour is responsible for 87% of road accidents and fatalities in our country. And so, reducing road fatalities and accidents is the responsibility of each one of us,” Creecy said at the launch.