Staff Reporter.
Five people have been killed and another was rushed to hospital after a car they were travelling in overturned and burst into flames in Mpumalanga on Sunday morning.
The car, which was transporting the six people, overturned on D2945 Road, between Mgobobodzi and Madadeni, at about 03:00.
Five of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, while a sixth person is in a critical condition in hospital.
A spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi, said the cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
“Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie is once again pleading with motorists to be cautious on the road in order to reduce deaths and injuries from road crashes.
“Macie says people must all respect the rules of the road. With greater caution and considerate driving, more lives will be spared. We must all play our part to bring an end to the devastation that tragedies like these bring to families and communities.”
Meanwhile the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has a number of multibillion-rand projects in the pipeline in its Western Region, which includes the Western and Northern Cape.
The project entails upgrading the highway from a four-lane to a six-lane or eight-lane freeway, upgrades to four interchanges, as well as improving pedestrian safety infrastructure.
The project is estimated to cost R2-billion, and the tender is to be advertised in November. The combined estimated value of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the N2 Wilderness upgrades is more than R1.5-billion.