By Mr Lee
Mbyana ya Mahungu
A tragic head-on collision on the N2, just before the Umzumbe River Bridge in KwaZulu-Natal, has claimed the lives of five people believed to be from the same family, authorities confirmed on Friday night.
The crash involved a Suzuki light motor vehicle and a seven-seater minibus, resulting in a devastating impact that left three children aged between three and five, along with two adults believed to be their parents, dead at the scene.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, emergency responders and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) arrived to find extensive damage and multiple victims requiring urgent intervention.
Two additional occupants from the Suzuki — a woman and a 14-year-old boy — were rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. From the seven-seater, two people sustained injuries and were treated by paramedics.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” said MEC Duma. He added that a team from his office had been deployed to work alongside community leaders, including Sibonelo Cele, who attended the crash scene.
The RTI is expected to release a preliminary report on the circumstances surrounding the collision. The incident has since been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for a full investigation, in line with procedures for major road fatalities.
Authorities have urged motorists to avoid the N2 in the Umzumbe area, as the scene remains active and traffic is being diverted toward Hibberdene.
This latest incident adds to growing concern over the high number of fatal crashes on KwaZulu-Natal roads, particularly involving young children and entire families.
