A horrific head-on collision between an SUV and a minibus taxi on the N9 outside Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape has claimed the lives of 14 individuals. The incident occurred early on Monday morning when the two vehicles collided while traveling in opposite directions.
According to local authorities, the SUV, which was carrying six passengers, was traveling from Middelburg to Graaff-Reinet. The minibus taxi, with an unknown number of occupants, was headed in the opposite direction. Tragically, all six people in the SUV, believed to be members of the same family, died at the scene. Seven people from the minibus taxi also lost their lives, with a 14th victim succumbing to injuries later in a nearby hospital.
Eleven other individuals from the minibus taxi sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with officials from the Eastern Cape Department of Transport working to determine the circumstances behind the deadly collision.
In a statement, Eastern Cape Transport and Community MEC Xolile Nqatha expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of life, offering condolences to the grieving families and wishing a swift recovery to the injured.
This fatal incident adds to a concerning series of head-on collisions in the region. On December 8, three people were killed and two others injured in a similar crash involving a van and a sedan on the R61 near Bizana. The authorities are urging increased caution on the roads as traffic volumes are expected to surge in the coming weeks, particularly during the holiday season.
The Eastern Cape Department of Transport has stepped up law enforcement efforts, deploying officers across major routes to ensure road safety, with a special focus on roads connecting the province to neighboring areas like the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Gauteng.