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

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?

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.

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.”

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.

Gauteng high-speed chase ends in shootout, SA applauds police as 4 house robbers are fatally wounded

Meanwhile, a high-speed chase on the N14 resulted in the death of four suspects wanted for several house robberies. The suspects were fatally wounded during a shootout with police in Centurion on Wednesday, 11 September 2025.

The suspects were linked with 18 house robberies in the Tshwane South and Johannesburg North suburbs.

Gauteng Highway Patrol and private security acted on information from Crime Intelligence and began a tracing operation for the house robbery suspects who were terrorising various areas in Gauteng.

At approximately 3 pm, members spotted a vehicle matching the description of the getaway car belonging to the suspects. The vehicle was spotted on the R55 in Centurion. When officers attempted to stop it, the men sped off, and a chase ensued.

The Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) Air Wing was called in to support the team with aerial surveillance during the chase and spotted the suspects taking the N14 on-ramp towards Pretoria.

Source: Briefly News