Department of Transport and Community Safety
By Nkosana Khumalo
Three people have been killed and 63 others injured in two separate vehicle crashes on the R531 road near Hoedspruit in Limpopo’s Mopani District, according to the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety. The tragic incidents, which occurred on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, involved a light delivery vehicle overturning and a heavy motor vehicle colliding with a tractor while overtaking. Transport Department spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene confirmed that investigations are underway to determine the causes, as survivors receive treatment in local hospitals.
Details of the Crashes
First Crash: Light Delivery Vehicle Overturns
The first accident took place near Kampersrus village, where a Hyundai light delivery van lost control and overturned. According to Chuene, the driver’s loss of control led to the vehicle flipping, resulting in one fatality and 23 injuries. The victims, reportedly workers being transported, were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention. “The first accident happened next to Kampersrus village where the driver of a Hyundai light delivery van lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn resulting in one fatality and 23 injured,” Chuene stated.
Preliminary investigations suggest that factors such as speeding or road conditions may have contributed, though a full probe is ongoing to pinpoint the exact cause. The overturned vehicle caused significant disruption on the R531, a busy route connecting rural communities in the region.
Second Crash: Overtaking Collision with Tractor
The second, more severe crash occurred near Marepe Lodge, claiming two lives and injuring 40 others. Chuene explained that an Isuzu heavy motor vehicle, while attempting to overtake, collided with a New Holland tractor. Both vehicles were transporting workers, amplifying the tragedy’s impact on the local community. “The second accident is next to Marepe Lodge. The driver of the Isuzu heavy motor vehicle was overtaking and collided with a New Holland tractor, both vehicles are reported to have been transporting workers,” she said.
The collision’s force left a devastating toll, with emergency services working tirelessly to free trapped victims and transport the injured to hospitals. The 40 survivors are receiving treatment, with some in critical condition, according to reports from the scene.
Investigations Underway
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and traffic authorities are conducting thorough investigations into both crashes. While initial reports point to the driver’s loss of control in the first incident and reckless overtaking in the second, officials are examining all possible factors, including vehicle conditions, road safety, and driver behaviour. “Investigations are underway to determine the cause of this accident,” Chuene confirmed, emphasizing that findings will be shared once complete.
Limpopo’s roads have a history of deadly accidents, often linked to reckless driving, overtaking on unsafe sections, and poor vehicle maintenance. A 2023 crash in Musina, where a minibus taxi overtook at a barrier line and collided with a light delivery vehicle, killed eight people, highlighting similar issues. The current investigations will likely explore whether similar patterns played a role in Tuesday’s tragedies.
Hospital Treatment and Community Impact
Survivors from both crashes are receiving medical care at hospitals in the Mopani District, including Tintswalo Hospital, which has experience handling crash victims from the region. Chuene noted that the 63 injured passengers are being treated for a range of injuries, from minor to critical. “The survivors of the crashes are being treated in hospital,” she said, underscoring the urgency of the medical response.
The crashes have sent shockwaves through Hoedspruit, a small town reliant on agriculture and tourism. Many of the victims were workers, possibly employed in local farms or businesses, making the incidents a blow to families and the local economy. Community leaders and residents have rallied to support the affected families, with calls for improved road safety measures growing louder.
Limpopo’s Road Safety Crisis
These crashes add to Limpopo’s grim record of road fatalities. In February 2025, a horrific collision on the R40 near Hoedspruit killed 13 people when a minibus taxi and bakkie collided head-on, with some victims being supermarket employees. Just weeks ago, on 31 March 2025, seven people, including a five-year-old girl, died in two separate crashes in the province, with reckless driving and mechanical faults cited as possible causes.
The Easter weekend of 2025 was particularly deadly, with multiple accidents across South Africa, including a 15-vehicle pile-up in KwaZulu-Natal that injured 65 people. Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye, has repeatedly urged motorists to exercise caution, especially during peak travel periods like the upcoming Easter holidays from 18 to 22 April. “As we approach Easter weekend, I urge road users to be more cautious,” Mathye said after recent crashes.
South Africa’s broader road safety challenges exacerbate the issue. The country ranks among the world’s most dangerous for driving, with low seatbelt adherence and high rates of drunk driving contributing to fatalities. In Limpopo, reckless overtaking and speeding are recurring culprits, as seen in a 2022 N1 crash that killed six after a vehicle overtook on a barrier line.
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