15 Die in Horrific Limpopo Accident Between Taxi and Bakkie, SA Shattered
- Fifteen people died during a horrific accident on the R40 road in Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province
- It's not clear how the accident took place, but it's believed that a bakkie collided with a taxi, which then caught fire
- South Africans were devastated and slammed taxi drivers, accusing them of poor driving skills
- Stan Bezuidenhout, a crash investigator, spoke to Briefly News about the role technology can play in reducing road fatalities
Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather and natural disaster-related incidents at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for seven years.
Source: UGC
HOEDSPRUIT, LIMPOPO — Fifteen people died in an accident in Hoedspruit, Limpopo on 8 February 2025.
What happened in Hoedspruit?
The accident took place on the R40 in Hoedsrpuit. A taxi allegedly carrying staff members of a store collided with a bakkie and caught fire. The passengers were reportedly trapped inside and perished in the fire. Firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire.
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Similar horrific accidents
- Seven people died in a horrific crash on the N4 in Mpumalanga on 31 December 2024, and a toddler was among those who died
- Eight days later, 18 people died in KwaZulu-Natal on the N3 when multiple vehicles crashed into each other
- Dashcam footage of the accident showed a taxi crashing head-on into a truck which was involved in the accident
Crash expert speaks with Briefly News
Stan Bezuidenhout told Briefly News the role technology can play in reducing accidents on the road, especially involving buses.
"Emerging and existing technologies exist that would make any transport medium safer. The ones at the top of my list are: dash cameras or vehicle video telemetry systems that record on an ongoing basis; vehicle telemetry systems that record location, date, time, speed and even engine speed, throttle and brake input on a high-frequency basis; and integrated driver protection systems like geofencing, speed fencing, or passenger feedback systems," he said.
Netizens react
South Africans commenting on SABC News's Facebook page were horrified.
Source: Getty Images
Xolela Simo November said:
"South Africa needs prayers."
Jozi Jozi said:
"Taxis and truck drivers: the forces behind wiping out a nation on our roads."
Rito Nsuku Hlangalezwe said:
"So sad. Our roads have become notorious slaughterhouses."
Nhlanhlaakani Thuso Godi said:
"you know, this R20 neh... there's something wrong with this road."
Thuthani Mathe said:
"Very sad indeed. Drivers, please let us be patient on the road, especially taxi drivers."
Ks Sekgobela said:
"May their souls rest in eternal peace."
5 die in horrific Vryheid accident
In another article, Briefly News reported that a police officer and four others died in a head-on collision on the R34 in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal. The accident happened two days before New Year's Day.
The constable was driving in a state vehicle when he crashed into another vehicle. He died, and four other passengers died in the accident.
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Source: Briefly News
