No fatal accidents reported in eMalahleni over the weekend
No fatal accidents reported in eMalahleni over the weekend
The Easter weekend's road carnage is tallying up.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison reported the province has recorded about 18 deaths in crashes between 17 and 19 April.
On April 18 three people, including a toddler died in an accident on the R35 between Bethal and Middelburg.
Three other people sustained serious injuries while two occupants were slightly injured.
This fatal crash involved a multipurpose vehicle and an articulated truck.
Two people also lost their lives when the mini-bus taxi that they were travelling overturned after its driver lost control on the N4 toll road near Middelburg while 13 others were injured.
The day before motorists on their way to the Lowveld were stuck in traffic after a tragic accident claimed the lives of six people on the N4 toll road between Machadodorp and Belfast. Five people died at the scene, while the sixth person died in hospital.
It took hours before the roads reopened.
#TRACN4route #CrashUpdate at 16:32. Scene cleared btw #Emakhazeni IS + Bergendal Monument (N4/5X KM 32.6E).
— TRAC N4 Toll Route (@TRACN4route) April 19, 2025
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie said most of these deadly collisions could have been avoided had motorists heeded calls to adhere to the rules. He believes that if all road users can prioritise their own safety and that of others, deadly crashes will be drastically reduced.
As part of the ongoing Easter visibility on the roads, traffic law enforcement officers have stopped and checked over 13 500 vehicles since Thursday in various ongoing Easter operations across the province.
0ver 5 000 vehicles went through various weighbridges. About 2 700 summonses were issued to motorists for various offences.
Gavin Cooper from Legacy Emergency Medical Services and Dino Padayachee from Langamed Emergency Management said no fatal accidents were reported in eMalahleni over the weekend.
Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok
Chat to us: info@witbanknews.co.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Leisure Wheels tests Ford Everest Sport 4×4: Perfect balance between rugged and refined
The Ford Everest Sport 4×4 walks the line between rugged and refined with impressive composure. Now two months into its time as the Leisure Wheels long-term test vehicle, the seven-seat, ladder-frame SUV has been tasked with more city driving than open-road exploration, and it has responded with grace. Cederberg Trails to Urban Daily Duties When […] The Ford Everest Sport 4×4 walks the line between rugged and refined with impressive composure. Now two months into its time as the Leisure Wheels long-term test vehicle, the seven-seat, ladder-frame SUV has been tasked with more city driving than open-road exploration, and it has responded with grace. Cederberg trails to urban daily duties When we received the Everest Sport to test, we had a solid month of driving lined up, including an Easter weekend in the Cederberg. The Sport variant hits a sweet spot for adventure-minded buyers who are happy to forgo the luxury trimmings of the Wildtrak or Platinum, but still want serious off-road capability. While the Sport doesn't include Ford's '4A' automatic all-wheel-drive mode (available in the higher-spec trims), it does offer selectable four-wheel high and low modes via the rotary dial next to the gear shifter. An electronic rear differential adds confidence for trickier trails. We've yet to take the Everest Sport into technical 4×4 territory, but the gravel roads of the Cederberg proved a good test of its light off-road ability and comfort. Fully loaded with passengers and camping gear, the SUV handled the terrain with ease. The suspension absorbed dirt road imperfections well, and the light all-terrain tyres delivered stable performance over corrugations and loose gravel. Related: Ford Everest Sport 4×4: Long Termer Introduction – Leisure Wheels Real-World Fuel Consumption One of the 2025 Everest Sport's highlights remains its drivetrain: the smooth, 10-speed automatic paired with Ford's familiar 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel. Last month, fuel consumption averaged 9.2L/100km. This month, largely limited to short city trips and uphill commutes in Cape Town, we're sitting at 10.8L/100km. While that's up, it's still respectable for a vehicle of this size and weight. Ford claims a combined fuel economy of 7.5L/100km, which we'll aim to test more accurately with some longer highway trips scheduled next month. Refined, Understated Design Two months in, I remain a fan of the Everest Sport's appearance. Finished in Aluminium Metallic with subtle black 'Sport' detailing, it strikes a clean yet assertive look. If you want to stand out a bit more, 'Blue Lightning' is the boldest option in an otherwise grey, black, white, and bronze-inspired colour palette. Three Highlights of the Ford Everest Sport 4×4 Even beyond the capable drivetrain and composed ride, there are a few standout details that make this SUV a strong daily driver. Quick-Access Lane Departure Control Being able to turn off the lane-departure prevention with a quick double click of one's left thumb on the steering wheel is such a pleasure. Many vehicles have overly-aggressive lane-assist safety features, which you have to dig around in the central infotainment system or digital display behind the steering wheel to turn off. Being able to do it on the fly is a massive bonus. Refinement and Responsiveness The sport's well-tuned suspension and responsive drivetrain make it an awesome daily driver, and it transfers this on-road elegance to off-road conditions too. Along with the drivetrain, the pedals are responsive and well-balanced, never lagging on acceleration nor too sensitive in stopping. The steering remains composed and precise for a vehicle of nearly five meters long. Well-Mannered Safety Features While some modern SUVs overwhelm drivers with overly sensitive warnings and interventions, the Everest Sport's safety features are intuitive and restrained. From blind spot monitoring to motion sensors and lane assist, everything works cohesively without being intrusive. 2025 Ford Everest Sport 4×4 – At a Glance Price: R1,109,500 (Recommended Retail Price) Engine: 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo Diesel, four-cylinder Power: 154 kW @ 3,750 r/min Torque: 500 N·m @ 1,750–2,500 r/min Transmission: 10-speed automatic Driven Wheels: Full-time four-wheel drive with selectable drive modes Fuel Efficiency: 7.5 L/100 km (claimed) Wheels: 20″ Black Alloy Wheels Key Features: Wireless Charging, Rear View Camera, 12-inch Touchscreen Display Service Plan: Standard 6 years / 90,000 km; Optional extension up to 8 years / 165,000 km Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oliver Keohane (@oliverkeohane_) The post Ford Everest Sport 4×4: Long termer update – Leisure Wheels appeared first on CAR Magazine.
IOL News
28-05-2025
- IOL News
Four people killed in R38 road crash; bakkie occupants missing
Authorities said a sedan crashed with a bakkie, and the sedan was swung across the road where it further collided with a truck. Image: Supplied Four people lost their lives on Tuesday evening when a light delivery vehicle and a sedan collided head-on, on the R38 Road between Kaapmuide and Louws Creek in Mpumalanga. The sedan, after colliding with the bakkie, was swung across the road and subsequently collided with a truck. The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison said four victims died at the scene and they include the driver of the sedan, and three passengers. 'The occupants of the bakkie were reportedly not found at the scene,' said Moeti Mmusi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison. 'The cause of the crash is not clear at the moment but reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out at this stage. The investigation into the crash is already underway.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Authorities said a sedan crashed with a bakkie, and the sedan was swung across the road where it further collided with a truck. Image: Supplied Meanwhile, Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie has called on motorists to drive with caution, especially in the dark, when visibility is reduced. "While the government at all levels is putting programmes in place to make roads safer, it is the responsibility of every driver to obey the rules and use the road cautiously. Most of the crashes can be avoided if those who drive are highly alert at all times," Macie said. The MEC is sending condolences to the bereaved families.
Daily Maverick
07-05-2025
- Daily Maverick
After the Bell: Road safety and the limits of legislation — why enforcement and culture matter
It's something of a curiosity why SA, which has very strict rules on drunk driving, seat belts and speeding, doesn't seem to be making progress in making the roads safer. The biggest problem with driving in South Africa is that local drivers tend to regard traffic rules as suggestions rather than laws. In a lot of places in SA, particularly taxi drivers don't even rise to that level of mental attitude, and you can see that by the way taxi drivers don't even slow down for red robots late at night. The result is a huge number of deaths on the road. South Africa's road fatality rate is one of the worst in the world, at about 26 per 100,000, compared with Brazil at 15.6 and the world average of 17. The real killer weekend is, of course, Easter, although this year the death rate declined substantially. The 167 deaths recorded was the lowest number in the past three years, representing a 46% decline from 2024. Unfortunately, this might have been a bit fortuitous since the number of Easter deaths is very variable, and 2024 was a particularly bad year, so the base was high. The 2025 result was actually a bit higher than 2022, when 162 people died. In 2018, there were a shocking 510 deaths. Recently, an organisation called Zutobi, an online driver education platform, published a report which said SA had, in fact, the most dangerous roads to drive on in the world. The report doesn't only use motor accident deaths, it also includes in its rankings seat belt usage rates, maximum speed limits and the number of accidents involving alcohol. The fact-checking website AfricaCheck slightly got on its high horse about these stats, pointing out that the survey includes only 53 countries, heavily weighted towards developed countries. The World Bank actually has a more comprehensive list, although it's now a bit dated. In this list, SA's road accident mortality rate is listed at 22 per 100,000, and puts SA more or less in the middle. The 22 per 100,000 figure is comparable with countries at a similar economic level. Africa Check quotes Dr Lee Randall, an independent researcher on road safety and co-founder of the Road Ethics Project, as saying, 'The surveys are not scientifically sound. They [Zutobi] do not explain how they selected the countries they analysed, and don't justify why they are based on a sample which is heavily skewed towards high-income and upper-middle income countries and omits every single low-income country in the world.' Ok, you know, nobody wants to be listed as the worst in the world when you are not. But the problem is that Zutobi doesn't score countries by the death rate only, but by things such as road traffic deaths attributed to alcohol. And by this measure, SA is just terrible: almost double the rate of the second-worst country on the list, which is Ireland. South Africa's death rate is not only high because of high levels of drunk driving, but also because of a large number of pedestrian deaths. In the most recent results, for example, the Western Cape reported 22 road deaths over the Easter weekend, and of these fatalities, 14 were pedestrians, five were passengers, two were drivers and one was a motorcyclist. It does suggest that SA's education programmes about dangerous driving should also be aimed at pedestrians. The good news is that the World Bank figures suggest that road accident deaths are declining around the world. In developed countries, they almost don't exist. Sweden had two motor accident deaths in 2019, the World Bank's latest figures show. It's something of a curiosity why SA, which has very strict rules on drunk driving, seat belts and speeding, doesn't seem to be making progress in making the roads safer. SA has been at the bottom of the Zutobi list for the past three years, and before that was second-last. The problem is, of course, as with so many other parts of SA's legal system, enforcement. Anecdotally, I suspect the main problem is also cultural. If you go to a supper party in Europe, for example, it will typically be a subject of conversation on who the designated non-drinker is… and if the designated non-drinker drinks, there is a lot of tut-tutting. That never happens in SA – and it shows. DM
