11 killed in horrific N2 crash near Mtubatuba

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has conveyed his condolences to the families of 11 people who died in a horrific road crash on the N2 near Mtubatuba in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The crash happened at about 4am in the Nkodibe area, when a minibus taxi and a truck collided head-on.

The taxi was reportedly carrying Maskandi music fans who were returning to their homes in Mtubatuba and Big Five Hlabisa after attending a Maskandi festival hosted by artist Sgwebo in Melmoth, uMthonjaneni.

The taxi caught fire following the collision, with nine of the victims burnt beyond recognition.

A further nine people sustained serious injuries and were rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

The truck was reportedly travelling towards the uMfolozi sugar mill when the collision occurred.

Ntuli expressed his profound sadness over the loss of life and extended his condolences to the victims' families, relatives and friends.

“This is a devastating tragedy that has robbed 11 families of their loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this extremely painful time. Losing so many lives in a single road crash is heartbreaking, particularly when people were simply returning home after attending a cultural and musical event,” said Ntuli.

The Premier also wished those injured a speedy and full recovery and praised emergency services and members of the public who responded to the crash and assisted the victims.

Premier urges motorists to exercise caution

Ntuli urged motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads, particularly during the early hours of the morning when fatigue can affect a driver's ability to drive safely.

“We continue to appeal to motorists not to take unnecessary risks on our roads. Drivers must rest when they are tired and must never place the lives of passengers and other road users at risk,” he said.

He also called on law enforcement agencies to strengthen enforcement of road safety laws, including measures to prevent drunk driving and ensure that vehicles operating on public roads are roadworthy.

The Premier stressed that road safety is a collective responsibility and urged public transport operators and drivers to prioritise the safety of passengers.

Ntuli also acknowledged Mtubatuba Local Municipality Mayor Mxolisi Mthethwa, who was at the scene during the early hours and assisted with the emergency response and coordination of support.

“On behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, I thank Mayor Mthethwa and all emergency personnel, law enforcement officers and community members who have been working under extremely difficult circumstances to assist at the scene,” said Ntuli.

He said the immediate priority was to support the affected families, assist those who were injured and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the crash are properly established.

The Premier has called for continued support for the affected families as authorities undertake the process of identifying the deceased and assisting their loved ones.