The first accident happened Friday at around 22:00 on the road to Phalaborwa near Ngove village. It is alleged that a taxi travelling from Giyani heading toward Ngove collided with a truck that was heading toward Giyani. The driver of the Toyota Quantum taxi, Dzunisani Chabalala (38), a resident of Ngove village, lost his life at the scene. The truck driver sustained no injuries and is facing a culpable homicide charge.

Police say the cause of the accident is not known at this stage. “I do not want to speculate what had happened between the taxi and the truck, it is safe to say the ongoing investigation by the police will reveal the cause,” said Sgt Ridgewell Rikhotso, the spokesperson of the police in Giyani. In a second accident on Saturday morning, an Audi A3 collided with a VW Polo while trying to overtake another car at around 07:30 at the bridge near the Maeteko Mortuary.

Also read: Staggering 20 accidents in just two days in Giyani

The passenger in the Polo, a retired nurse, Lucent Mthombeni, unfortunately, succumbed to injuries and died at the scene, just a few metres away from Nkhensani Hospital where she used to work. Both drivers of the vehicles survived the accident and were taken to Nkhensani Hospital along with three passengers that were in the Audi A3. One of the passengers in the Audi is reportedly in serious condition after suffering head injuries. The police say they have opened a culpable homicide case and the reckless driving case against the driver of the Audi A3.