Five people were killed and 10 others critically injured in a horror accident on Monday evening when a minibus taxi overturned on the R58 between Lady Grey and Aliwal North.
The latest deaths pushed the number of people killed on Eastern Cape roads in the space of two weeks to 26.
Arrive Alive Eastern Cape provincial spokesman Tshepo Machaea said the accident happened shortly before 7pm.
“According to the driver, who was unharmed, the taxi had overturned after he tried to swerve to avoid hitting another car which had made an abrupt U-turn on the road,” said Machaea.
The occupants of the taxi were reportedly on their way to Johannesburg from Mqanduli when the accident occurred.
Four men and a woman died on the scene while 10 other passengers were rushed to the Lady Grey Hospital with serious injuries.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said four adults and three children had suffered serious head injuries.
“There is a possibility that they might have to be transferred to a hospital in East London,” he added.
On Monday the Dispatch reported that five people, among them a man believed to be a police officer, were killed on Saturday when a minibus collided head-on with a police van on the R56 between Dordrecht and Indwe.
The incident took place less than a week after 16 people, including seven church members from The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) were killed and 20 others injured on provincial roads.
Provincial transport MEC Weziwe Tikana yesterday expressed condolences to the families of all the victims, saying “even one life killed on our roads is one too many”.
She said her department was planning to call all roleplayers under one roof to find solutions.
A memorial service was held for the seven AFM members in Libode yesterday.
The victims – Nogcinile Xoliswa Bangela, 53, Avela Viwe Jama, 33, Unathi Vetyeka, 27, Gladys Zameka Jamelana, 55, Nomtshato Evelyn Bontshi, 59, Lindiwe Bontshi, 23, and Nombeko Alice Ndamase, 55 – were killed when their minibus collided head-on with another taxi on the notorious R61 near Dangwana village between Mthatha and Port St Johns. Their driver Avela Vetyeka was also killed in the accident.
They were reportedly on their way to a regional spiritual conference in Lusikisiki at the time. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
R58 accident kills five people, leaves 10 others injured
The latest deaths pushed the number of people killed on Eastern Cape roads in the space of two weeks to 26.
Arrive Alive Eastern Cape provincial spokesman Tshepo Machaea said the accident happened shortly before 7pm.
“According to the driver, who was unharmed, the taxi had overturned after he tried to swerve to avoid hitting another car which had made an abrupt U-turn on the road,” said Machaea.
The occupants of the taxi were reportedly on their way to Johannesburg from Mqanduli when the accident occurred.
Four men and a woman died on the scene while 10 other passengers were rushed to the Lady Grey Hospital with serious injuries.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said four adults and three children had suffered serious head injuries.
“There is a possibility that they might have to be transferred to a hospital in East London,” he added.
On Monday the Dispatch reported that five people, among them a man believed to be a police officer, were killed on Saturday when a minibus collided head-on with a police van on the R56 between Dordrecht and Indwe.
The incident took place less than a week after 16 people, including seven church members from The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) were killed and 20 others injured on provincial roads.
Provincial transport MEC Weziwe Tikana yesterday expressed condolences to the families of all the victims, saying “even one life killed on our roads is one too many”.
She said her department was planning to call all roleplayers under one roof to find solutions.
A memorial service was held for the seven AFM members in Libode yesterday.
The victims – Nogcinile Xoliswa Bangela, 53, Avela Viwe Jama, 33, Unathi Vetyeka, 27, Gladys Zameka Jamelana, 55, Nomtshato Evelyn Bontshi, 59, Lindiwe Bontshi, 23, and Nombeko Alice Ndamase, 55 – were killed when their minibus collided head-on with another taxi on the notorious R61 near Dangwana village between Mthatha and Port St Johns. Their driver Avela Vetyeka was also killed in the accident.
They were reportedly on their way to a regional spiritual conference in Lusikisiki at the time. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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