‘A Bloody Start to December’: Eight Lives Lost on Mpumalanga’s Wet Roads

A Dark First Weekend of December

December is supposed to be the month when families come together, highways fill with holidaymakers, and the year’s exhaustion finally eases. But for eight families in Mpumalanga, the month has begun in grief.

In two separate public transport crasheshours apart and in different parts of the province, eight people lost their lives, marking one of the first major tragedies of the festive travel season.

The province, already known for its high-traffic holiday routes, is now confronting a harsh reminder: every December, the road becomes both a gateway to rest and a site of heartbreak.

The R33 Horror: Bus Overturns on a Slick Road

The first incident unfolded along the R33 between Mkhondo and Amsterdam, a stretch of road that locals often describe as “unforgiving” after rain.

A bus headed for Johannesburg reportedly lost control before overturning. The crash was violent enough that five passengers died on the scene, while six others were critically injured. Another 20 people sustained milder injuries, according to Mpumalanga MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Thulasizwe Thomo.

The bus was carrying long-distance passengersmany of whom were likely travelling early to avoid December’s usual congestion. Instead, they found themselves in the province’s latest transport tragedy.

MEC Jackie Macie from Community Safety urged drivers to adapt to the current wet conditions, saying the weather has already turned the province’s roads into “high-risk corridors.”

Second Crash, More Lives Lost on the R38

Just as authorities were processing the devastation on the R33, another scene of loss emergedthis time along the R38 between Badplaas and Barberton.

A minibus taxi collided with a truck, killing two passengers and the taxi driver. The truck driver walked away unharmed.

For communities along the Barberton–Badplaas routewhere taxis are a lifeline connecting rural areas to town centresthe crash has sent shockwaves. December travel is often the busiest and most profitable period for taxi operators.

But it’s also the riskiest.

A Province on Edge as Festive Season Peaks

Officials have responded with urgency and sorrow.

“It is saddening to receive such news, especially as we enter the busy festive season,” MEC Thomo said, offering condolences to the grieving families and wishing the injured a full recovery.

He once again appealed for vigilance on the province’s roadsespecially under wet, unpredictable conditions that will likely persist throughout December.

Roadworthiness, patience, and speed control, Thomo stressed, are non-negotiables during this high-travel period.

The Bigger Picture: Why These Crashes Hit Hard

Accidents involving public transport vehiclesespecially buses and taxistend to draw sharper public reaction because they underscore a larger, feared pattern:

• Overloaded or ageing public transport fleets

• Drivers working long hours to meet festive season demand

• Weather patterns becoming more erratic and more dangerous

• High-speed rural routes with poor visibility and limited lighting

On social media, South Africans have already begun voicing frustration. Many argue that yearly festive campaigns have become repetitive slogans rather than real interventions. Others are questioning the readiness of public transport operators to meet holiday travel surges without compromising safety.

A Festive Season That Demands More Caution

With the holiday rush now in full swing, authorities have confirmed that intensified roadblocks and random vehicle inspections will continue across Mpumalanga.

For residents and travellers, these crashes serve as an early warning: the journey is often the most dangerous part of the holiday.

As rain clouds continue to gather over the province, the message is simple but urgent

Drive slower. Check your vehicle. And remember that arriving late is better than not arriving at all.

Greyhound Tragedy on the R33: Five Dead as Bus Overturns in Rain-Soaked Mpumalanga

{Source: IOL}

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