Lesedi Local Municipality Executive Mayor Mluleki Nkosi visited a bereaved family in Ratanda on September 10, following a road accident on the R549 (Vaaldam Road) that claimed the lives of five members of the same family.

Nkosi was accompanied by the Speaker of Council, Phindi Mpemvu, and Chief Whip Themba Gama during the visit, where they offered their condolences and support to the grieving family.

The crash claimed the lives of a father, a mother and their three grandchildren, leaving relatives, friends and members of the Ratanda community devastated.

The R549 is an important regional route linking Heidelberg with Deneysville and passes through the Ratanda area.

The road has previously been the scene of serious crashes and other incidents, highlighting ongoing road-safety concerns.

In August, another collision on the R549 near Ratanda Cemetery left six people with light to moderate injuries after a minibus taxi and a light motor vehicle collided. Emergency services, including Gauteng Provincial Government Medical Services, Lesedi Traffic and Lesedi Fire and Rescue, responded to the scene.

The latest fatal crash has once again highlighted the dangers motorists face on the route.

During his visit, Nkosi conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and offered words of comfort as they come to terms with the loss of five loved ones.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected not only the family, but our entire community. To lose five members of one family in a single incident is a loss that words can hardly express,” he said.

“We have come here to stand with the family, to mourn with them and to assure them that they are not alone during this painful time.”