By Kopano Dibakwane
A devastating head-on collision involving an SUV and a bakkie has claimed the lives of five people on the N4 Toll Road between Machadodorp and Belfast, on Thursday 17 April 2025.
The tragic incident occurs barely a day after the launch of the Easter Road Safety Campaign in Mpumalanga spearheaded by the DCSSL(Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison), in collaboration with SAPS(South African Police Service) and DPWRT(Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport).
According to DCSSL spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, three people sustained serious injuries while the deceased were passengers in both vehicles.
Mpumalanga MEC for DCSSL, Jackie Macie, has expressed concern about the fatal incident and called on motorists to observe the rules of the road. He also urged motorists to reduce speed, particularly in unfavourable weather conditions.
“ We are deeply saddened by this development as the crash happened hours after our Easter Road Safety Activation o the same route. We have identified the N4 Toll Road as one of the priority routes based on the number of crashes that were recorded during the previous holiday seasons,” said Macie.
He furthermore reiterated a plea for increased tolerance among road users as traffic volumes are expected to peak during the Easter long weekend.
