Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr. Jackie Macie has once again reminded motorists who will be travelling back after the Easter long weekend to drive with caution amid rising numbers of fatalities in the province since Thursday.
The province has recorded about 18 deaths in various crashes that occurred between 17 and 19 April 2025. More than half of these fatalities were reported in the Nkangala District.
Six people were killed on the N4 toll road between Machadodorp and Belfast on Thursday afternoon in a head-on collision between Machadodorp and Belfast. Five people died at the scene, while the sixth person succumbed while receiving treatment at the hospital.
Two people also lost their lives when the mini-bus taxi that they were travelling overturned after its driver lost control on the N4 toll road near Middelburg while 13 others were injured.
Three other lives were claimed on R35 between Bethal and Middelburg in a collision between a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) and an articulated truck.
Macie says most of these deadly collisions could have been avoided had motorists heeded calls to adhere to the rules. He believes that if all road users can prioritize their own safety and that of others, deadly crashes would be drastically reduced.
He is further calling on public transport operators to ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles and also rest every two hours or 200 kilometres of being behind the steering wheel.
"We are pleading with every driver to ensure that they use the road cautiously. People must stop overtaking dangerously and driving with excessive speed so that they can safely reach their destinations," Macie added.
Meanwhile, traffic law enforcement officers have stopped and checked over *13 500* vehicles since Thursday in various ongoing Easter operations across the province
0ver *5000* vehicles went through various weighbridges. About *2700* summonses were issued to motorists for various offences.
Macie also lauds the arrest of over 100 suspects for drinking and driving. He says it was important to reign in on drinking and driving, considering the devasting consequences road crashes bring to many families.
He also urges law enforcement officers to remain relentless in their quest to enforce the law and bring reckless and negligent drivers to book.
EDNS...
Issued by the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison.