Truck crashes keep piling up on Magoebaskloof Pass
A string of truck and vehicle crashes has renewed safety concerns on the R71 Magoebaskloof Pass amid ongoing repairs to the R528 Georges Valley Road.
TZANEEN – A series of accidents involving trucks and other vehicles along the R71 Magoebaskloof Pass has raised renewed concerns about motorists’ safety, with the latest incident reported on Monday, October 26, while ongoing construction on the R528 Georges Valley Road adds to travelling challenges.
According to emergency alerts issued by Asterix Fire and Rescue, numerous accidents have occurred along the R71 Magoebaskloof Pass and R528 Georges Valley routes over the past two months, causing road closures, traffic disruptions and at least one fatality.
The latest incident occurred near the bottom of Magoebaskloof, although the extent of injuries and road obstruction was not immediately confirmed.
On October 21, a truck crash near the bottom of the pass caused traffic delays, with reports of looting at the scene. A day earlier, a three-vehicle collision below the Magoebaskloof Farmstall obstructed two lanes.
These traffic problems are a direct result of the Georges Valley Road being repaired and trucks ignoring traffic signs for heavy vehicles not to use the Magoebaskloof Pass, residents and emergency services told the Herald.
Georges Valley repairs continue with no end date
The R45m rehabilitation of Georges Valley Road, which began on May 27 with a three-month completion target, is still in progress. It is not known when work will be completed. On August 17, the Herald reported that although work was progressing on the upper section, residents said the lower section continued to deteriorate.
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Tonny Ernest Rachoene inspected progress on August 14, while the department maintained that the project was progressing well.
However, at the time, residents remained concerned that the outstanding repairs may not be completed within the original timeframe.
String of recent incidents
Other incidents include a crash on October 8, when a truck lost control on the Georges Valley Road near Timeless Farm Getaway, leaving its trailer obstructing traffic. Another truck crash was reported later that day near the Georges Valley off-ramp towards the R36. A fatal incident on the R71 near Haenertsburg on October 4 also resulted in a road closure.
On September 30, emergency services responded to a head-on collision at the Magoebaskloof lookout point and another crash at the R36 Merensky junction.
A broken-down truck near Selati Ruins also posed a hazard in rainy conditions and poor visibility. Earlier, on August 30, an interlink truck became stuck above the Eden’s Gate turn-off, blocking the uphill lane near a blind corner.
