5 Children Dead in Pietermaritzburg After Taxi Crashes Into Daycare Centre

• Five children were killed and eight were injured after a taxi ploughed into a creche in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
• The taxi driver lost control of the vehicle after the brakes allegedly failed before crashing into the building
• South Africans slammed taxi drivers and accused them of being reckless as emergency medical services rushed to the scene

For seven years, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, South Africa, covered a range of topics, including accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather, and natural disaster-related incidents, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

PIETERMARITZBURG, KWAZULU-NATAL — Five children lost their lives and eight people were injured after a taxi crashed into a daycare centre in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg, on 11 September 2025.

According to Arrive Alive, the incident happened on the T6 Road at 7:30 am. KwaZulu Private Ambulance service responded to the scene after the taxi lost control and veered off the road. It ploughed into the creche where children were attending classes.

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The victims who died were between the ages of nine and eleven years old. Other children between nine and 15 years old were injured and rushed to the hospital, where they were treated for critical and serious injuries. KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance Service commented on the professionalism of the paramedics who worked to rescue and stabilise the injured. An investigation of the incident is underway.

KZN Transport MEC provides an update

In a statement, the province's MEC for Transport, Sboniso Duma, said that all of the children in the creche who witnessed the accident survived. The children who died and were injured were from Zibekuzulu High School, Mehlokazulu High School, Sukuma High School, Henryville Primary School, and Phambili Primary School. He also said that the taxi driver jumped out of the vehicle before the accident.

Duma also said the police and the Rosd Traffic Inspectorate will investigate the incident. The investigation will also uncover why the driver jumped out of the vehicle and whether the taxi was roadworthy. Counselling will also be provided to the victims and the children who survived the accident.

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Teacher and relative weigh in

According to The Witness, Luthando Msomi, who is a teacher at the creche, arrived as the accident took place. Msomi heard the screams from the taxi's passengers and rushed to help.

Themba Ndawonde, whose nephew died during the accident, said that the family has not been given full information about what happened.

"I was at home asleep, and now my nephew is gone," he said.

Accidents involving children

Two children were killed in a horrific accident, which claimed five people in Tafelkop, KwaZulu-Natal, on 25 August 2025. The accident happened on the R542 when two sedans crashed into each other in a head-on collision.

A KwaZulu-Natal driver crashed into a wall on 26 August 2025, and 19 children were injured. The accident happened on Pebble Drive when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

What did South Africans say?

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Netizens commenting on X slammed taxi drivers.

BK Von Sindimba said:

"Probably not roadworthy."

A_N said:

"Imagine taking your child to daycare in the morning on your way to work, and less than 2 hours later you get a call stating your child is dead because some taxi driving idiot drove like a lunatic!"

Rudzani said:

"There is not a single Siyaya taxi that is roadworthy. This thing has never been on the road to begin with."

Ghost said:

"I don't understand why these old taxis are still on the road."

DirectInYoFace said:

"I am quite certain that it wasn't roadworthy."

6-year-old killed in KZN accident

In a related article, Briefly News reported that a six-year-old was among the two victims of an accident that happened on the N2 in KwaZulu-Natal. About 10 people were injured in the accident.

Five vehicles were involved in the accident. Two of the vehicles overturned numerous times, and many of the passengers were thrown out of the vehicles.

Source: Briefly News