Persistent N12 winter fog triggers multiple pile-ups in Mpumalanga
With several serious crashes reported on the same stretch of road in recent months, emergency teams are urging motorists to slow down, increase following distances and avoid driving when visibility is dangerously poor.
Every winter, dense fog settles over sections of the N12, creating hazardous driving conditions that have repeatedly resulted in serious and sometimes fatal crashes.
Over recent months, emergency services and recovery teams have responded to several incidents on the same stretch of road, including multi-vehicle collisions, truck fires and the loss of life.
The recurring nature of these crashes is a reminder that motorists should never underestimate the dangers of driving in poor visibility.
Read more here:Multiple crashes reported on N12 and near Rietspruit as heavy fog reduces visibility
Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution after multiple crashes were reported on the N12 between Ogies and the R555 off-ramp, as well as near the Rietspruit T-junction
— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) July 13, 2026
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The latest incident, reported on July 13, saw multiple vehicles involved in a pile-up after thick fog reduced visibility to dangerous levels.
Read more here:Woman killed on N12 crash scene, two trucks burn
N12 Highway is covered in fog, and multiple accidents have been reported
— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 24, 2026
Read more here: https://t.co/JWRJfq6VWE#witbanknews #witbank #localnews pic.twitter.com/quqBjQ8feH
The crash followed another devastating incident in June in which a woman lost her life after a chain-reaction collision involving several vehicles and a petrol tanker.
In a separate emergency, a rescue helicopter was deployed near Phola after multiple crashes linked to the same weather conditions.
While each incident has its own circumstances, they all point to one common factor: reduced visibility caused by dense winter fog.
Motorists urged to pull over
The message from recovery teams echoes previous advice from the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison. Department spokesperson Moeti Mmusi previously advised motorists: “If there is heavy fog, motorists should always pull over and wait for it to clear. If you must really drive, you have to be extra cautious and make sure that you are visible and that you can also see other vehicles.”
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