Two pastors were among the five people killed when their vehicles collided head-on on the Mafikeng-Lichtenburg road on Sunday, the North West transport department said.
They have been identified as Pastor Fani Ntsabane, of Resurrection Christ Church, and Pastor Meshack Selane, of the Apostolic Faith Mission, said spokesperson Matshube Mfoloe.
Five people died and five others were seriously injured in the accident that happened at about 4am.
”The pastors were trapped in their brand-new Toyota Yaris. Rescuers had to use the Jaws of Life to free their bodies from the wreckage,” said Mfoloe. They were the only people in the car that was travelling from Lichtenburg towards Mafikeng.
The other vehicle, a BMW with eight occupants, exploded on impact. Two people were burnt beyond recognition after being trapped inside the wreckage. A third occupant died after being flung out of the car.
Those injured — three women and two men — were said to be in a critical condition in Thusong and Bophelong hospitals. The BMW was travelling from Verdwaal village towards Lichtenburg.
”The people who were travelling in the BMW were residents of Verdwaal and aged between 17 and 20,” said Mfoloe, adding that the cause of the accident still had to be confirmed. ”Preliminary investigations have not ruled out the possibility that human factors, like excessive speed or falling asleep while driving, might have been the main cause.”
A case of culpable homicide is being investigated.
Other accidents
Seven people were killed when three vehicles burst into flames after colliding on the R34 route between Vryheid and Melmoth on Monday, the KwaZulu-Natal transport department said.
Spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said a Toyota, a bakkie and a Tata collided and burst into flames near Gluckstadt, killing seven people and leaving two critically injured and another two with minor injuries. The cause of the accident was unknown, she said.
The road was completely closed as emergency workers cleared the scene. Traffic was being diverted along a nearby gravel road.
In Gauteng, three people were seriously injured when their taxi overturned on the M1 southbound highway near the Grayston offramp in Johannesburg on Monday morning.
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane said the cause of the accident was unknown.
The passengers were being treated by paramedics. Three had sustained serious injuries and the rest were being treated for minor injuries, she said. ”The accident has affected traffic terribly … only the slow lane is opened, both the fast lane and the middle lane have been closed.”
Traffic was backed up to the Buccleuch interchange.
Also, four people were injured on Monday when the car they were travelling in overturned along the R59 freeway at the Reading interchange in Alberton, Ekurhuleni metro police said. — Sapa