At least 21 people have lost their lives in a devastating road crash in South Africa’s Western Cape province, once again drawing attention to the country’s persistent road safety challenges.
The fatal incident occurred on the highway between Leeu-Gamka and Prince Albert, about 380 kilometres northeast of Cape Town, when two minibus taxis and an SUV collided late Sunday.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) confirmed that 21 people sustained fatal injuries, while police said several other occupants were taken to hospital for treatment.
The crash reportedly occurred at about 9:30 p.m. local time, resulting in the temporary closure of the highway as emergency responders worked at the scene.
Police have opened a culpable homicide investigation as authorities work to establish what caused the vehicles to collide.
The tragedy comes despite South Africa recording a decline in road fatalities in 2025. RTMC figures show that 11,485 people were killed in road crashes last year, representing a reduction of more than five percent compared with the previous year.
However, authorities continue to identify speeding, reckless driving, poorly maintained vehicles and failure to use seat belts among the major factors contributing to the country’s high road death toll.
