Ten people were killed in a head-on crash between a minibus taxi and a bus on the R39 between Standerton and Morgenzon in Mpumalanga on Thursday morning.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison confirmed the deaths, describing the collision as a devastating incident on one of the province’s key regional routes.
Department spokesperson Moeti Mmusi said the cause of the crash is still under investigation. He added that reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out at this stage.
Most victims died at the scene
According to Lekwa Local Municipality mayor Sifiso Mngemezulu, nine of the victims were declared dead at the scene. He said all nine were male, including the taxi driver.
A tenth victim, a woman, was declared dead on arrival at Standerton Hospital.
Mngemezulu said four other people suffered serious injuries and were admitted to hospital. The injured include the bus driver and the bus co-driver.
That means the crash not only leaves families grieving. It also left survivors fighting to recover after a violent collision that unfolded in seconds.
Authorities search for answers
For now, officials have not confirmed the cause of the crash. But the fact that it was a head-on collision immediately raises serious questions about what happened in the moments before impact.
Mmusi said an investigation is underway. Until that process is complete, authorities are stopping short of assigning blame.
Still, the early warning from the department is clear. Reckless and negligent driving remain among the possible factors being considered, and investigators will now have to determine whether driver behaviour, road conditions or another factor triggered the crash.
Another heavy blow for families and commuters
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jacie Macie sent condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Mngemezulu also expressed sympathy to the victims’ relatives, friends and colleagues, underscoring the scale of the loss for the affected communities.
The crash is another grim reminder of how deadly South African roads can be, especially when buses and taxis are involved. For the families who lost loved ones on the R39, Thursday morning became a scene of sudden tragedy. Now the focus shifts to the investigation and to whether answers can bring some measure of accountability and closure.