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The Minister of Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy, and Transport Deputy Minister, Mr. Mkhuleko Hlengwa, have expressed their condolences and deepest sympathies to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in two major road crashes in Mpumalanga and Western Cape Provinces.
This morning a major crash occurred at approximately 00:30 on the N1 between Leeu Gamka and Prins Albert in the Western Cape which involved two Toyota Quantum taxis and one Suzuki Brezza SUV, resulting in a multiple-vehicle crash and twenty-one people losing their lives.
Another major crash occurred on Sunday 13 September 2026 at approximately 01:00 on the N17 between Ermelo and Davel in Mpumalanga.
This crash involved two sedan vehicles in a head on collision which resulted in eight people losing their lives.
Minister Creecy and Deputy Minister Hlengwa have directed the RTMC working together with local authorities to investigate the causes of these road crashes. The preliminary reports will be available in 48 hours from the start of investigations. They have also directed the RAF to urgently avail its services to assist families of the victims and those who sustained injuries.
REDUCTION OF ROAD FATALITIES AND CRASHES
These road crashes have dealt a blow to the road fatalities and crash reduction of 9% which was recently announced by the Department.
Addressing a Road Safety Colloquium, on 2 September 2026 at Birchwood Conference Centre, Minister Creecy stated that the Department and the Provinces have recorded significant milestones over the past two years. Over six percent less annual crashes and fatalities were recorded in 2025 compared to 2024.
She further said that data from the 2025-2026 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign indicated a five percent reduction in both road fatalities and crashes, and five provinces recorded a reduction in the number of fatalities when compared to the same period in the previous year.
During the 2026 Easter long weekend the Road Traffic Management Corporation recorded the second-lowest crashes & fatalities over the past 4-year Easter periods. When compared to the peak in 2024, crashes declined by 24% and fatalities by 39%.She acknowledged that while these statistics are commendable, the numbers remain too high, and every life lost represents the loss of a loved one, a parent and a breadwinner. We therefore need to ramp up and intensify our existing efforts to continue seeing a reduction in these figures.
Consequently, since last year, Creecy and Hlengwa continue to convene weekly meetings with MECs of Transport and Community Safety to discuss and interrogate various efforts to deal with the reduction of road death toll.
ROAD SAFETY MESSAGES
While the cause of the two road crashes have not been established, Minister Creecy has cautioned motorists to travel during daylight hours. She has also made an emphatic call to motorists to comply with the rules of the road, such as:
- Don’t drink and drive
- Rest after every 2 hours or after every 200 km
- Buckle up
- Stick to the speed limit
- Ensure vehicle and driver fitness before embarking on a road trip.
ISSUED BY: National Department of Transport