A horrific collision between a BMW and a Toyota Quantum on the N1 at Botlokwa in Limpopo left eight people dead and several others injured.
It has been confirmed that the crash occurred on Saturday evening, casting a shadow over the Heritage weekend festivities.
Among the casualties were two children, two females, and four males including the drivers of the ill-fated BMW and the mini-bus taxi.
Emergency services personnel worked tirelessly using the jaws of life to extricate the victims from the wreckage, while a critically injured passenger was airlifted to Polokwane Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Florence Radzilani, the MEC for transport and community safety in Limpopo, expressed her sadness and extended condolences to grieving families.
The tragic collision serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety, especially during holiday weekends when travel is often at its peak.
Radzilani called upon the residents of Limpopo to exercise caution during the long weekend and urged law-enforcement officers to ensure strict compliance with road safety regulations.
Last week, more than 20 people were burnt to death in Musina when a bus collided head-on with a truck.
It was confirmed at the time that the bus was transporting mineworkers to Venetia mine when it collided with the truck and caught fire.
The mining company later confirmed that the deceased had been working for the mine for more than 10 years.
Ed Jardim, spokesperson for the company, said at the time: “We offer our condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, injured and in any way impacted by this tragic accident.”
About the accident on Saturday, Radzilani said: “This accident comes during a time when as a province, we are still mourning from the accident that occurred at Musina last week.
“Our people in the province should be very careful while traveling to their different destinations, we continue to lose lives on our roads.
“All of us should be concerned and promote road safety during our journeys.”
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