By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Motorists travelling from and to Mpumalanga via N12 are advised to use alternative routes following multiple-vehicle crash on Tuesday morning.
The massive accident occurred on the N12 between eMalahleni and Ogies in Mpumalanga.
The highway has been closed at the N4 and N12 split.
“Motorists who are travelling from Middelburg to Johannesburg are advised to proceed with N4 and use R555 until they reach Balmoral, where they can then rejoin N12”, says Mpumalanga Community Safety spokesperson Moeti Mmusi.
“Those driving from Delmas direction are advised to take the R555 in Ogies and join N4 in Emalahleni. Officials and emergency personnel are on the scene to redirect motorists. At this stage, it is not clear how many vehicles are involved or the nature and types of crashes or injuries, if there are any.”
There is no indication how long road will be closed.
In a separate incident, six men were killed in a horrific crash in Mpumalanga when a bakkie and a car collided head-on along the R40 at Violet Bank in Bushbuckridge.
“Four of the deceased were occupants in the light motor vehicle, while the fifth victim was the passenger in the light delivery vehicle (bakkie). Prior to the head-on collision, it is alleged that the light delivery vehicle first hit a pedestrian, who died while being transported to the nearby hospital, “said Mmusi.
“Five of the deceased perished at the scene. The driver of the light delivery vehicle seemingly lost control after the collision and the vehicle went on to crash into a minibus taxi that was travelling on the same road.”
The driver of the bakkie was critically injured, while several passengers in the minibus taxi sustained injuries ranging from slight to serious.
Mmusi said all the injured were rushed to a hospital in the area.
“The investigation into the crash is already under way,” said Mmusi.
Meanwhile, acting MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison in Mpumalanga, Busisiwe Shiba said the crashes are regrettable and they bring so much misery to many families.
Shiba has called on motorists to be cautious at all times when using the roads in order to reduce the number of deadly crashes in the province.