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Three people were killed and burned beyond recognition in a head-on collision between a sedan and a bakkie on the R23 between Val and Balfour.
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Emergency responders found both vehicles engulfed in flames, with the crash under investigation by Mpumalanga authorities.
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The accident followed a separate fatal bus crash in KwaZulu-Natal earlier that same day, raising broader road safety concerns across South Africa.
Tragedy struck on the R23 Road between Val and Balfour in Mpumalanga on Tuesday when a head-on collision between a sedan and a light delivery vehicle (LDV) resulted in a horrific fire, claiming the lives of all three people involved.
According to the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, the R23 crash occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. and led to the total incineration of both vehicles.
The department confirmed in a statement that “the occupant in the sedan was a female driver, and the two men in the LDV were also killed. All victims were burned beyond recognition.”
Emergency responders rushed to r23, but the severity of the fire left little chance of survival for anyone involved. According to IOL, images from the site showed a devastating inferno that engulfed both vehicles, leaving behind only charred wreckage.
R23 crash reignites concerns over road safety on Mpumalanga highways
The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, and authorities have launched an investigation to uncover what may have led to the deadly incident. Officials indicated that forensic experts would conduct detailed analysis, including possible brake failure, excessive speed, driver error, or road conditions.
“An investigation has been opened to determine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” the department noted.
The crash adds to a grim day on South Africa’s roads. Earlier that same Tuesday, a separate accident involving a fully-loaded bus on the R102 near Maidstone Sugar Mill in KwaZulu-Natal claimed three lives and left at least 12 people seriously injured. The bus veered off the Tongaat River bridge, prompting a large-scale emergency response and temporary closure of the road.
Emergency service provider IPSS Medical Rescue confirmed that some passengers were still being extricated from the wreckage late into the afternoon, with “an unknown number of patients with minor injuries” being treated at the scene and at local hospitals.
These back-to-back tragedies have once again highlighted the need for increased road safety measures, regular vehicle maintenance checks, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws—especially on high-risk rural routes.
The identities of the victims in the Balfour accident are yet to be released pending DNA verification and family notifications. Authorities have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, particularly during peak travel hours.
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