The R63 road near Debe Nek, a vital link between Qonce and Alice, became the scene of a devastating multi-vehicle collision on Tuesday afternoon, claiming three lives and leaving five others injured. The crash, which occurred around 4 pm, involved three vehicles and has prompted a culpable homicide investigation.
According to Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose, preliminary information suggests a tragic convergence on the road. Two Toyota bakkies were travelling from Middledrift in the same direction. One carried two Fidelity security crew members, while the other was transporting three men and a load of livestock. A Toyota Corolla with two occupants was travelling from Qonce.
Fatalities and Injuries
The three male occupants from the bakkie carrying livestock sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The four occupants from the security bakkie and the two from the Corolla were injured and rushed to Grey Hospital in Qonce for treatment. Binqose conveyed the department’s condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The cause of the collision remains unclear and is under investigation by authorities. A case of culpable homicide and negligent driving has been opened at the Chungwa Sapa Police Station.
A Grim Echo: Vanderbijlpark Driver’s Expired Permit
In a separate but equally tragic development, Gauteng officials have revealed a critical lapse in Monday’s horrific Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash, which killed 12 pupils. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that the 22-year-old driver’s Professional Driving Permit (PDP) had expired in November last year.
“Therefore he was driving without the necessary permits,” Lesufi stated. The driver, whose alleged attempt to overtake led to a head-on collision with a truck, has been arrested. This revelation adds a layer of alleged negligence to a catastrophe that has plunged the Sedibeng community into mourning.
Both incidents, hours and provinces apart, cast a stark light on the persistent dangers on South Africa’s roads, where human error, regulatory failure, and hazardous conditions continue to claim lives with devastating regularity. As investigations proceed, the collective toll serves as a sombre reminder of the fragility of every journey.
