Tragic N4 Crash Claims 5 Lives, 3 Others Seriously Injured After SUV and Delivery Vehicle Collide

• Five people were killed when an SUV and a delivery vehicle collided on the N4 in Mpumalanga
• Three others were seriously injured in the accident on the N4 on the road between Belfast and Machadodorp
• The Provincial Spokesperson for Community Safety, Security and Liaison said inclement weather could have been to blame

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent ten years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

MPUMALANGA – The Easter weekend has gotten off to a tragic start as at least five people have been killed in one accident.

The victims were killed following a head-on collision between a delivery vehicle and a sport utility vehicle (SUV) on the N4. A third vehicle was also said to be involved in the fatal accident.

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The accident occurred on the toll road between Belfast and Machadodorp in Mpumalanga on 16 April 2025. As of 8am on 18 April 2025, it was confirmed that a sixth person had passed away.

Three injured in deadly N4 crash

According to Provincial Spokesperson for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi, three others were seriously injured in the crash.

Mmusi also added that the crash may have been caused by the bad weather.

“It is believed that the inclement weather may have caused this accident, because it is rainy and wet, and motorists cannot see well on the roads,” Mmusi said

Emergency Services were called to the scene as the road remained closed for many hours. Mmusi also advised motorists to use alternative routes, as the road remained closed.

Traffic was heavily backed up as a result, with many vehicles stuck in traffic in poor weather with limited visibility.

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Preparations are in place ahead of Easter weekend

The Easter weekend is often one of the most dangerous times on the country’s roads due to the high number of vehicles travelling. The Department of Transport in the various provinces have all launched campaigns to promote safety ahead of the busy period, as they aim to bring down the number of fatalities from previous years.

Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa also noted that drunk driving and speeding were still other major concerns on the roads, as drivers continued to take chances.

With high volumes of traffic expected on the country's roads this weekend, Arrive Alive CEO, Advocate Johan Jonck, also advised motorists to keep their seatbelts on and ensure that their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition.

The Easter period is also known for bad accidents, as many either travel to other destinations for holidays or religious pilgrimages. In 2024, over 40 Botswana nationals were killed one day before Easter. The group were travelling from Botswana to Limpopo when the bus they were travelling in crashed. An eight-year-old child was the only survivor.

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Department of Transport warns about new trend on the roads

Briefly News also reported that the Department of Transport warned about a new cause of accidents.

Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa noted that motorists were making content while driving.

South Africans argued that the poor state of the roads was the real cause of the numerous accidents.

Source: Briefly News