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Fifteen people have been killed in a head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a pick-up truck in rural South Africa, according to a transport official on Sunday.
The accident occurred late on Saturday night into Sunday, near the town of Maqoma in the Eastern Cape, about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of Johannesburg.
Five others were hospitalized with serious injuries following the crash.
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Both drivers were among the fatalities, and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash, said Unathi Binqose, a provincial transport spokesperson.
The victims included 13 passengers in the minibus, which was reportedly en route from Qonce to Cape Town, a journey of nearly 1,000 kilometers.
South Africa, known for its extensive and busy road network, has one of the highest road death rates, largely attributed to speeding, reckless driving, and poorly maintained vehicles.
In 2023, road accidents claimed over 11,800 lives, with pedestrians accounting for nearly 45 percent of the victims, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s latest data.
