As the Easter weekend approached, South Africa's roads turned deadly with a series of tragic collisions resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Early on April 18, 2025, two significant accidents occurred in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), leaving a grim mark on the holiday period.
In Mpumalanga, a fatal incident on the N4, approximately 2 kilometers from the Middelburg Dam, claimed the lives of two individuals and left 13 others seriously injured. The Middelburg Observer reported that the collision occurred around 04:50 when the driver of a taxi lost control, causing the vehicle to roll down an embankment. Emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene, where they found two people who had died instantly.
This incident followed another devastating crash that took place just hours earlier on the same N4 route outside Belfast at the Berg-en-Dal Monument. Here, a head-on collision involving a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a bakkie resulted in five deaths at the scene, with three others sustaining serious injuries. Tragically, one of the injured later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at a hospital in Belfast, bringing the total fatalities from this crash to six.
Moeti Mmusi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, indicated that inclement weather may have contributed to these accidents. He remarked, "It is believed that the inclement weather may have caused this accident because it is rainy and wet, and motorists can’t see well on the roads." He urged drivers to adhere to road rules and exercise caution, especially during adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, in KZN, the situation unfolded with two major collisions on the N3, beginning just after midnight. The first incident involved a serious collision between two trucks at the base of Town Hill. Mi7 Emergency Services reported that one truck veered off the road down an embankment, while the other obstructed both the middle and slow lanes of the highway. One driver was trapped in the wreckage, requiring a technical rescue by firefighters. This driver was stabilized and transported under Advanced Life Support (ALS) care to a nearby hospital, along with two other injured individuals.
As if this were not enough, a secondary incident occurred just before 03:00, described as a multi-vehicle pile-up. This collision, believed to have been caused by residual traffic buildup and debris from the earlier truck accident, involved at least 15 vehicles, including two trucks and two taxis. Reports from community WhatsApp groups characterized the scene as 'carnage,' with vehicles scattered across all lanes of the N3. Triage operations were rapidly established by paramedics from various services, and a bus passenger was found trapped and had to be extracted with assistance from firefighters.
In total, approximately 65 people were injured in the KZN incidents, with one sustaining serious injuries, three sustaining moderate injuries, and 61 suffering minor injuries. Four patients were transported to the hospital, while the remainder received treatment on site and declined further hospitalization.
Authorities closed the N3 for several hours, leading to extensive delays as they worked to clear the scene and investigate the circumstances surrounding these accidents. With high traffic volumes expected over the Easter weekend, officials have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, maintain safe following distances, and remain alert at all times.
Historically, the Easter weekend is one of the most dangerous times on South African roads, with a significant increase in traffic as families travel to holiday destinations. The busiest routes typically include the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban, and the N1 between Johannesburg and Polokwane, with substantial volumes also anticipated on the N4 toward Mpumalanga.
As the country braces for more travelers on the roads, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety has reiterated their call for drivers to adhere strictly to traffic regulations and drive safely, particularly in high-risk areas during peak congestion times. The tragic events of the early morning hours serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise on the roads, especially during busy holiday periods.
In light of these incidents, the public is reminded to remain vigilant and prioritize safety as they embark on their journeys this Easter weekend. The loss of life and serious injuries underscore the critical importance of responsible driving and adherence to safety measures.
