MBOMBELA, Mpumalanga — A tragic N4 crash in Mpumalanga has left four people dead following a horrific multi-vehicle collision involving two minibus taxis and a freight truck. The fatal incident occurred during the early hours of the morning on the highway stretch between Ngodwana and Mbombela, prompting immediate emergency responses and ongoing police investigations.
According to survivor accounts and preliminary reports, the disaster unfolded when a truck traveling from Johannesburg toward Mozambique collided with a minibus taxi from behind. The impact caused the taxi to spin across the road before the driver managed to bring it to a halt on the shoulder. Following the initial collision, the truck driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road.
The situation escalated catastrophically when a second minibus taxi, traveling from the direction of Mbombela, struck the now-stationary truck. This secondary impact caused the vehicle to catch alight, sparking a fierce blaze.
“We were traveling from Joburg to Maputo when the accident happened,” a survivor from the first taxi recounted. “The truck was coming from behind us and it crashed into our trailer. That caused our taxi to spin on the road, but our driver tried to control it until it stopped on the side of the road. The other taxi crashed into the truck and caught fire.”
Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the survivor expressed gratitude, adding, “We realize that it means we are alive now because we are here.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison confirmed the timeline and casualty details, noting that the crash took place at approximately 4:00 a.m.
“Early this morning around 4:00 a.m., one truck was involved with two minibuses,” the department’s spokesperson stated. “Here, four people lost their lives. Three of the deceased were occupants in one of the minibus taxis that caught fire, while the fourth person’s body was found on the road.”
Investigators noted that the exact origin of the fourth victim remains slightly unclear, but authorities suspect the individual was violently flung from one of the involved minibus taxis during the initial moments of the crash.
As emergency crews work tirelessly to clear the wreckage, the Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison has issued urgent warnings to the public. Motorists navigating the N4 corridor are urged to drive with extreme caution and remain vigilant while the scene is fully cleared and investigations into the exact cause of the collision continue.
