Africa14 September, 20262 min read
Two Toyota Minibus Taxis And SUV Crash Kills At Least 21 In South Africa’s Western Cape
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Two minibus taxis collided head-on and an SUV crashed into them on the N1. At least 21 killed and four seriously injured.
7 outlets told this the same way.
N1 crash in Western Cape
A road crash involving two minibus taxis and an SUV killed at least 21 people in South Africa’s Western Cape Province on Sunday night, authorities said Monday. The collision took place on the N1 highway between the small towns of Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka, around 380 kilometers (235 miles) east of Cape Town, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, or RTMC. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies said the crash involved two Toyota minibus taxis and a Suzuki sport utility vehicle, and that 18 people were declared dead at the scene.
Spies added that three others were declared dead after being taken to a hospital, bringing the toll to 21, while four other people were seriously injured, according to the Western Cape Mobility Department. RTMC said the N1 highway was closed at the crash scene and that the death toll “may change as emergency services and authorities in the Western Cape continue their assessment of the scene.”
Investigation and officials
Authorities said the cause of the collision remained under investigation, with Spies saying police opened a culpable homicide case and RTMC sent investigators to the scene. The Western Cape Mobility department stated that the crash is believed to have started when the two minibus taxis collided head-on, after which an SUV crashed into them. RTMC also said the N1 was closed in both directions and urged drivers to avoid the area, expect significant delays, and follow instructions given by authorities operating at the scene.
The Jerusalem Post reported RTMC’s post on X/Twitter, citing the same pattern of a head-on collision between two minibuses followed by an SUV hitting them shortly after. The Times of India similarly said the accident began when the two minibus taxis collided head-on and that the SUV then crashed into the wreckage on the N1 between Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka.
Broader weekend toll
The government said the Western Cape crash was one of two major crashes that killed at least 29 people across South Africa over the weekend, with eight people killed in a separate crash near Ermelo in Mpumalanga province early Sunday. ABC News said minibus taxis are the main mode of public transport for millions of people in South Africa and are often involved in fatal collisions. It also noted that two separate crashes involving minibus taxis in January left at least 25 people dead, including 14 children.
The crash details were echoed by multiple outlets, including the Times of India, which said three victims were taken to a hospital but were declared dead on arrival. RTMC’s warning that the death toll “may change as emergency services and authorities in the Western Cape continue their assessment of the scene” remained central to how authorities framed the incident as ongoing.