By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Fifteen people have died, while five have sustained injuries following a head-on collision involving a minibus taxi and a bakkie in the Eastern Cape.
The accident took place on R63 road between Adelaide and Maqoma, formerly Fort Beaufort on Saturday night.
Eastern Cape Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said a fully loaded minibus taxi collided head-on with a double cab bakkie.
“It is alleged that a white Quantum [minibus taxi], travelling from Qonce, formerly King Williams Town, to Cape Town, collided head-on with an Isuzu double cab [bakkie] that was travelling from Adelaide [in the direction of] Kwamaqoma,” Binqose said in a brief statement.
“The driver of the double cab died on the scene and 13 passengers in the taxi were also declared dead on the scene, including the driver.
“Six injured occupants of the taxi were rushed to Provincial Hospital for treatment, one of them later succumbed to injuries upon arrival at hospital, taking the number of deceased to 15.”
Binqose said an inquest docket has been opened for further investigation.
Last week, Trasnport Minister Barbara Creecy announced that this year’s Easter weekend saw the lowest number of crashes and road deaths in the past three years.
“Crashes were reduced from 209 in 2024 to 141 in 2025, which is a 32.5% overall decrease compared to 2024,” the minister said.
Creecy indicated that all provinces recorded decreases in road accidents, except for Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, which both saw an increase.