A horrific accident claimed six lives earlier today (Sunday) when a GWM Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a minibus taxi were involved in a T-bone collision on the R540 between Dullstroom and Lydenburg (Mashishing) at around 14:00.

Moeti Mmusi, Head of Communications at the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, gave more information from the scene:

@middelburgobserver

Six people were killed and eight others seriously injured in a horrific accident on the R540 Dullstroom/Lydenburg (Mashishing) road around 13:50. The injured were rushed to Belfast Hospital for treatment. R540, Dullstroom, Lydenburg, Accident, BreakingNews, MiddelburgObserver

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All six victims, five men and one woman, were passengers in the taxi and died on the scene. Another eight people sustained serious injuries, including seven passengers and the SUV driver. The taxi driver sustained only minor injuries. All the injured were transported to Belfast Hospital for treatment.

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr. Jackie Macie, expressed deep concern over the growing number of road fatalities and again urged motorists to drive responsib

He added that it is particularly tragic that this incident occurred during October Transport Month, a period dedicated to promoting safer transportation of goods and passengers

“We remain deeply concerned by the number of fatalities caused by road crashes that could be avoided with more responsible driving. Motorists should always be mindful that their mistakes while driving could be devastating, not only for them but for other road users,” Macie said.

Macie extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

The Dullstroom tragedy is the latest in a string of deadly accidents over the weekend:

• On Friday night, a man was killed in a head-on collision with a truck just outside Middelburg on the Stoffberg Road.

• On Saturday, three women and a child lost their lives in a crash on the N11 between Doornkop and the De Voetpadkloof turnoff.

Authorities are urging all motorists to exercise extreme caution as investigations into the recent spate of fatal accidents continue.