Eight killed in N17 crash near Ermelo now identified
New information sheds light on the identities and circumstances surrounding the eight people killed near Ermelo.
ERMELO – Eight people were killed in Sunday morning’s devastating N17 crash near Ermelo, with the victims now identified, including editor for Boksburg Advertiser and Benoni City Times, Fanie Mthupha.
Zandile Mavuso, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), confirmed details about the seven people travelling in the Volkswagen involved in the collision.
The victims in the Volkswagen sedan included Pastor Dumisane Sithole, his wife, Pinky Mambonambi Sithole, and their two children, two-year-old Enhle and three-month-old Emihle. Pastor Thokozani Nhlabathi, his wife, Dumisile MaMlambo Nhlabathi, and Cora Mambonambi Simelane were also among those who died.
According to the DCSSL, the group had attended a religious event in KwaZulu-Natal before travelling towards Gauteng.
The Toyota involved in the collision was travelling from Bethal, with Mthupha as the sole occupant.
Mthupha was recently recognised for his work in journalism.
Just a month before his untimely death, Mthupha was recognised for his contribution to journalism when he claimed third place in the digital reporting category at the 2025 AVBOB FCJ Excellence Awards in Pretoria.
As editor of the Boksburg Advertiser and the Benoni City Times, Mthupha played an important role in guiding the newspaper’s coverage and ensuring that stories reached and served its readers.
The award was a fitting recognition of his dedication to journalism and the contribution he made to the industry.
The publication has also published a tribute to him earlier today: Advertiser news editor remembered
The fatal head-on collision occurred at about 01:30 on September 13 near the Ermelo Toll Plaza.
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The deaths have left families, friends and communities mourning across different circles.
The loss of the seven people travelling together has also been felt within their religious and wider community circles, while Mthupha’s death has sent shockwaves through the community journalism fraternity and the Caxton newspaper network.
