A collision between a minibus taxi and a bakkie has claimed six lives on the notorious R503 road between Lichtenburg and Mahikeng in the North West Province. According to the police, the collision happened at around 5:15 p.m. on Sunday - leading to road closure for about five hours to allow emergency personnel to work attend to the injured.
North West Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson, Oshebeng Koonyaditse, said the taxi from Mahikeng was driving eastwards when it collided with the bakkie. "That bakkie was overtaking another vehicle coming from the direction of Lichtenburg. The deceased are four men, including the driver and two women and are all from the taxi," Koonyaditse said.
He added that several other seriously injured passengers were taken to General Delarey Hospital in Lichtenburg and Mahikeng Provincial Hospital. According to Koonyaditse, the accident led to the road being closed for almost five hours as it was only opened at 9:30 p.m. The department's MEC, Sello Lehari, sent condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured victims who were hospitalised a speedy recovery.
A few years back, this road made national headlines after 10 teachers who were travelling from their colleague's burial, lost their lives when a minibus taxi they were travelling in lost control. The minibus they were travelling in, was involved in a head-on collision. In the latest developments, three more lives were also lost on the same road on Tuesday afternoon. Four other passengers have been admitted to the hospital with serious injuries.
This follows a collision between two vehicles in opposite directions. Head of the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Dr Hans Kekana said it is concerning that in a short space of three days, nine lives have been lost on the same stretch of road. "We will never get tired of talking about road safety and continue to plead with our people to abide by the road rules," said Kekana.
In another development, the Association of Christian Leaders are pondering the idea of organising a healing and cleansing ceremony for the Lichtenburg-Mahikeng Road. Bishop Daniel Matebesi announced on the North West Press Club that they would perform the ritual as they did with the Zeerust Road, which was also experiencing a high volume of accidents at some stage.
