A tragic accident on the N1 southbound near the Zebediela Tollgate has claimed one life and left ten others injured, disrupting the flow of returning holidaymakers on Sunday.
According to authorities, the minibus taxi was traveling from Polokwane to Johannesburg when it overturned. The sole fatality has been identified as a 35-year-old male passenger.
A spokesperson for the local traffic department confirmed the casualty figures, noting that among the ten injured, four are in a critical condition. The injured, including the driver, have been transported to hospitals in Mokopane and Mahwelereng for treatment.
Preliminary information from the scene indicates that a tire burst may have caused the driver to lose control, leading to the vehicle overturning. The accident occurred on the N1 south between Mokopane and Polokwane.
In response to the crash, police have closed both lanes of the highway to facilitate a thorough investigation and clear the wreckage. The closure has caused significant traffic delays on a key route for travelers returning from holiday destinations.
The incident has prompted urgent calls for road safety. The Limpopo Department of Transport issued a statement urging all motorists to observe the rules of the road, noting a concerning number of fatalities on the province’s major routes since the start of the holiday period.
Echoing this sentiment, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) emphasized the need for taxi drivers in particular to adhere to safety regulations to prevent further tragedies.
Recovery and investigative operations at the scene are ongoing. Authorities have not yet indicated when the N1 will be fully reopened to traffic.
The N1 has since been reopened.