N12 closed
Zita Goldswain Less than a minute
Fog has caused horrific accidents on the N12 this morning.
The situation reduced visibility to near zero creating treacherous driving conditions.
This led to collisions involving cars and trucks.
The highway was closed earlier due to zero visibility on the road.
Emergency services are all on scene.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of utter devastation, and called it 'a nightmare'.
' There are injured people all over the road. The cars and trucks look like skeletons in the mist,' one of the drivers on the scene said.
As soon as more information is available, it will be published.
Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok
Chat to us: [email protected]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Scammers clone car ads to trick South Africans online
South Africans hunting for a bargain car deal online are increasingly finding themselves on the wrong side of a well-oiled scam involving criminals cloning the websites and advertisements of legitimate auctioneers and banks and tricking unsuspecting buyers into paying hefty deposits for vehicles that don't exist. The South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) has issued a firm warning to the public to use extreme caution when searching for second-hand cars and rather make use of companies portals rather than finding vehicles on social media platforms. When considering bidding for a vehicle, buyers should also look for any red flags and remember if the car seems too cheap or the deal too good to be true, it probably is. According to Sonja Styger, Chief Administration Officer at SAIA, the scams most often originate on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, where cars are advertised well below market value and 'reserved' for buyers willing to pay upfront. But buyers should note that under South African law no auction asset may be sold at a fixed price. Yet these so-called sellers offer vehicles at predetermined prices and press buyers to pay a deposit to avoid the car 'going to auction'. 'It's a blatant red flag, as these scamsters know the general public may not understand how auctions work and capitalise on that ignorance. An auction doesn't have a fixed price; the highest bid when the hammer falls determines the price,' says Styger. In many cases cloned adverts feature photos of vehicles scraped from the internet. Fraudsters pose as legitimate auctioneers, complete with stolen branding and cloned websites, right down to official-looking WhatsApp business accounts and email signatures. The big difference, of course, is the bank details they provide are fake, and once the money clears, the fraudsters disappear. The scam extends beyond auctioneers. Even South Africa's top vehicle finance providers are being targeted by impersonators. On platforms like TikTok and Facebook, fake accounts using these banks's branding have emerged, pretending to offer repossessed vehicles at knockdown prices. The catch is that buyers are told to pay a 'reservation' fee to hold the car before it goes on auction. These are sophisticated scammers that mimic legitimate companies' communications and logos with such precision that many people cannot tell the difference. There are clear warning signs if you know what to look for: Fixed pricing for auction vehicles, which is illegal under South African auction law. Payment requested via WhatsApp or direct bank transfer. Always rather pay through verified secure platforms. No verifiable company registration or physical address. Reputable SAIA-registered auctioneers are transparent. Poorly written ads with vague vehicle information No refundable registration deposit. Genuine SAIA-registered auctions require you to register and pay a deposit to participate but never to secure a specific car beforehand. Viewing any asset is imperative; never pay money over to anyone unless you have physically inspected an item and are completely satisfied with the condition of the asset. To avoid falling victim, SAIA urges people to stick to SAIA-registered auctioneers and check any auctioneer's credentials before engaging. SAIA keeps a verified list of trusted members on their website at along with contact details to help verify any social media listing or auction advertisement. 'If a buyer is unsure about an advert or auctioneer, take five minutes and contact us to verify. Trust your instincts. If something feels unsettling, rather stop and verify, as it is far better to miss a great deal than to lose your savings to a scam that was never real to begin with.' ALSO READ: Municipality warns residents to avoid scammer posing as disconnection official The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
N12 closed
Less than a minute Zita Goldswain Less than a minute Fog has caused horrific accidents on the N12 this morning. The situation reduced visibility to near zero creating treacherous driving conditions. This led to collisions involving cars and trucks. The highway was closed earlier due to zero visibility on the road. Emergency services are all on scene. Eyewitnesses described a scene of utter devastation, and called it 'a nightmare'. ' There are injured people all over the road. The cars and trucks look like skeletons in the mist,' one of the drivers on the scene said. As soon as more information is available, it will be published. Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: [email protected]
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Brace for the chill: City Power urges residents to cut back on electricity use
Brace for the chill: City Power urges residents to cut back on electricity use As icy temperatures grip Johannesburg this week, City Power is urging residents to use electricity sparingly to avoid overloading the grid and triggering widespread outages. The South African Weather Service has forecast very cold conditions until early next week, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 5°C in some areas. With heaters, electric blankets, and other appliances in high demand, the power network is set to experience a surge in usage. City Power has warned that this could lead to overloaded cables and transformers, increasing the risk of faults or explosions and resulting in longer, unplanned blackouts. 'During these periods, we experience high call volumes and multiple outage reports, which may affect response times,' the utility said. 'We ask customers to be patient as our teams work around the clock.' To reduce strain, residents are encouraged to switch off non-essential appliances and lights, especially during peak hours (6:00-9:00 and 17:00-21:00), and to refrain from using multiple high-consumption devices simultaneously. Alternatives such as warm clothing, blankets, and gas heaters are recommended where possible. City Power says it will continue monitoring the network closely and respond to faults as quickly as possible. Customers can report outages via or by calling 011 490 7484 / 0860 562 874. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
