Tragedy struck Limpopo’s Mopani District on Tuesday, 29 April, as three people lost their lives in two separate road accidents on the R531 near Hoedspruit. The crashes have raised new concerns about road safety in the province, even as national statistics show an overall improvement during the 2025 Easter weekend.
According to the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, the first accident occurred near Kampersrus Village during the early morning hours. Department spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene confirmed that a Hyundai light delivery vehicle overturned after the driver reportedly lost control. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while 23 others sustained various injuries.
In a separate and more severe incident on the same road, a heavy-duty vehicle collided with a tractor while attempting to overtake near Marepe Lodge. Both vehicles were carrying workers at the time. The impact claimed two lives and left 40 others injured. Emergency services responded swiftly, and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Chuene stated that investigations are currently underway to determine the exact causes of both crashes. She emphasized the department’s ongoing commitment to road safety and cautioned drivers to exercise more vigilance
“These accidents are devastating, and our teams are working closely with law enforcement and forensic investigators to understand what went wrong,” she said.
Sadly, these were not the only fatalities reported over the past few days. Chuene also revealed that five additional people died in another gruesome crash along the R573 Moloto Road, in the Ephraim Mogale Municipality under the Sekhukhune District. This brings the total number of road-related fatalities in the region to eight within just three days.
Despite the tragic events in Limpopo, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy offered a glimmer of hope during the release of the 2025 Easter Road Safety Report. Alongside Deputy Minister Mkhululeko Hlengwa, Creecy announced a significant decline in road accidents nationwide over the Easter holiday period.
“In the past three years, we’ve seen a steady decrease in road crashes during the Easter season,” Creecy said. “In 2024, there were 209 reported crashes. This year, that number dropped to 141 — a 32.5% reduction.”
Fatalities also saw a marked decline, with the national death toll dropping from 307 in 2024 to 167 in 2025, representing a 45.6% decrease. All provinces recorded improvements, except for Mpumalanga, which experienced a 32.5% increase in road deaths.
While national trends are encouraging, the recent tragedies in Limpopo serve as a stark reminder that road safety remains a critical issue. The Department of Transport continues to urge motorists to drive responsibly, obey speed limits, and ensure vehicles are roadworthy to prevent further loss of life.
