KZN Taxi Crashes in Imbali, SA Frustrated As Incident Occurred in Same Area Where 5 Children Died

KZN Taxi Crashes in Imbali, SA Frustrated As Incident Occurred in Same Area Where 5 Children Died

  • Several school children were treated for injuries after another taxi accident in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg
  • The accident happened in the same area where five children were killed in another accident a day before
  • South Africans weighed in on the crash, questioning why unroadworthy taxis were still on the roads
Several learners were treated at the scene of another taxi accident
A taxi had an accident in Imbali in the same area where five children died in another taxi crash the day before. Image: @_ArriveAlive
Source: Twitter

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

KWAZULU-NATAL – Less than 24 hours after a fatal accident involving a taxi in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg, another taxi has been involved in a crash.

Paramedics from KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service treated three learners on Friday, 12 September 2025, after the brakes of a minibus taxi failed in the area. No fatalities were reported in the latest accident.

What happened in the latest accident?

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According to the ambulance service’s Craig Botha, a TV crew were filming in the area following yesterday’s fatal crash, when they witnessed the latest accident.

"A taxi carrying school children to their respective schools inexplicably lost control. Thankfully, no serious injuries or fatalities were reported,” he said.

The Road Traffic Inspectorate's Sindi Msimang clarified what happened, saying that when the driver attempted to apply the brakes, he realised they had failed.

“He then reversed until the vehicle crashed into the brick wall of the yard of one of the houses along the main road. The vehicle was suspended by Msunduzi Municipality," Msimang said.

According to residents in the area, some pupils were able to jump out just before the taxi hit the wall.

One resident who spoke to The Witness said it felt like a repeat of the previous incident in which five children died. The children died after the taxi they were travelling in ploughed into Senzokuhle Crèche.

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Five children were killed when a taxi crashed in Imbali
Fiver children were killed when a taxi crashed into Senzokuhle Crèche. Image: @ZANewsFlash
Source: Twitter

How did South Africans react to the latest incident?

Social media users were annoyed that taxis were once again involved in an accident, with many calling for the unroadworthy ones to be scrapped.

@Chabbs6 said:

“This is a scrap that is not supposed to carry people. Government officials are taking bribes. No sober person can issue a permit for this.”

@VeeOpulence added:

These Siyayas must be banned and scrapped from our roads. Their lifespan has expired, and they are no longer roadworthy. How are we still transporting people in these coffins that were used during Apartheid?”

@mokone_eddie noted:

“At least there are no fatalities😭. Parents are struggling financially, and kids get coffins on wheels as school transport. Sad💔.”

@phillibecks stated:

“Siyaya does not have parts anymore. All these vehicles must be removed from the roads.”

@uMaSimelane said:

“These taxis are not roadworthy, yet they carry scholars.”

@ProfSibs added:

“Siyaya should be scrapped. Period.”

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Luellen Smith noted:

“Another taxi accident involving school children.”

@njaps12 exclaimed:

“These vehicles are unroadworthy, and they are allowed to carry passengers. One would swear we don't have RTI in this country.”

Five dead in minibus taxi crash

Briefly News reported that a minibus taxi crashed on the N1 North after the Buccleuch interchange on 3 September 2025.

The accident, which forced the closure of the road, left several people dead after the vehicle overturned.

Emergency services and law enforcement officials were on scene as passengers remained trapped in the vehicle.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Byron Pillay avatar

Byron Pillay (Current Affairs Editor) Byron Pillay is a Current Affairs Editor at Briefly News. He received a Diploma in Journalism from the Caxton Cadet School. He spent 15 years covering politics, crime and current affairs. He was also the Head of Department for Sports Brief, where he covered both local and international sporting news. Email: byron.pillay@briefly.co.za