Five people were killed on Thursday evening when an articulated truck collided with a sedan on the R23 road between Balfour and Greylingstad in Mpumalanga.
FIVE KILLED IN R23 ROAD ACCIDENT IN MPUMALANGA
According to preliminary information, the crash occurred at around 19:30 on Thursday, 8 January. All five victims were occupants of the sedan.
Emergency services responded to the scene, where recovery and investigative operations are currently underway to determine the cause of the collision.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison has once again urged motorists to exercise caution and strictly adhere to the rules of the road, particularly on high-risk routes such as the R23.
Motorists travelling long distances are also encouraged to take regular rest breaks to reduce fatigue-related accidents.
Meanwhile, the Department has extended its condolences to the families of the deceased.
2024 – 2025 FESTIVE SEASON FATALITIES
Preliminary statistics from the 2024–25 festive period showed a concerning rise in road deaths, with at least 1 502 fatalities recorded in 1 234 crashes nationwide — a 5.3 % increase compared with the previous year. KwaZulu‑Natal was among the provinces with higher deaths compared with the 2023–24 season.
Transport authorities have attributed much of the road toll to human behaviour, including fatigue, excessive speed, drunk driving, reckless overtaking and pedestrian risk factors, with pedestrians accounting for a large share of fatalities.
