Zimbabweans killed in SA horror collision

Musina - Seven Zimbabweans died and nine others were critically injured in a freak accident between a taxi and truck at the Weigh Bridge traffic light in Musina Wednesday morning.

It is alleged that the taxi full of passengers failed to stop at the traffic lights and crashed into a truck carrying fuel.

Limpopo Department of Transport, Safety, Security and Liaison spokesperson Kagiso Mootane said: "Jaws-of-life were used to remove lifeless bodies and the injured passengers in the taxi." She said the taxi was transporting passengers from Beitbridge to Musina when the horror happened at around 5am.

"Luckily the fuel-transporting truck didn't explode," Mootane said.

Spokesperson for Police in Limpopo Col Ronnel Otto said they had opened a culpable homicide docket and bodies were not yet identified by the time of going to Press.

An eyewitness, Lucas Mozile, said emergency workers had their hands full to dispatch all the injured to Musina Hospital for treatment. He further said it was one of the most traumatic horrors on the Musina to Beitbridge road.

Limpopo Transport minister Mapula Mokaba Phukwana expressed her shock over the accident. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased during this time of grief, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured ones.

"The department shares the heartache and is saddened that so many lives continue to be lost on South African roads, which not only impacts negatively on their families but on the province and the country in general," Mokaba said. Premier Stan Mathabatha expressed his shock about the horrific accident and sent his condolences to the bereaved families.

He again reiterated the government's stance on unroadworthy vehicles that continuously flooded the province's roads.

"Traffic officials must continuously perform their work with due diligence to stamp out rowdy driving and unroadworthy vehicles," Mathabatha said.