By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
At least 12 people have died in yet another head-on collision on the N2 outside Dutywa, in the Eastern Cape.
Three people sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose says the road has been identified as the most dangerous in the country.
Binqose, says the accident involving a minibus taxi and Ford Ranger happened at 8 o’clock on Saturday night.
He says three people in the Ranger died on the scene, while nine passengers in the taxi were declared dead on the scene.
Binqose added a culpable homicide docket has been opened for further investigations.
“This is the second worst crash in terms of the number of fatalities since the beginning of the festive season. The MEC for transport in the Eastern Cape Xolile Nqatha is extending sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and is making a desperate plea to you and I, as road users, to be extra vigilant, cautious and be patient with one another on the road.”
Earlier in the day, another three people died when a minibus taxi had a tyre burst and overturned on the R61 between Nxuba and Graaff-Reinet.
Five people were killed following a collision on the R409 between Ndabakazi and Ngqamakhwe, while two people died in a single-vehicle accident on the N2 outside Mdantsane.
In another accident, seven people were killed and many others injured in a multiple-vehicle pile-up on the N1 in Ga-Phasha, Botlokwa outside Polokwane.
The crash involved seven vehicles including a taxi and a truck. The road has since been cleared and is open.
This brings the total to 29 people killed on the Provinces roads on Saturday.
This week Transport Minister Barbara Creecy painted a grim picture of the 2024 festive season, revealing that Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo accounted for 70% of road fatalities in South Africa thus far.
Creecy said a total of 439 fatal crashes have been recorded, which is a 3.1 % increase when compared to 426 fatal crashes recorded in the same period last year.