Seven people died in a head-on collision on Easter Sunday in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
Supplied/Eastern Cape Department of Transport
- Seven people died in a head-on collision on Easter Sunday in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
- The accident involved a Renault Triber with seven occupants and a Fuso manganese truck with just the driver.
- Eastern Cape Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha urged road users to exercise caution, especially during high-traffic periods.
Seven people died on Easter Sunday in a deadly crash in the Eastern Cape. The crash occurred at around 15:00 on the M17 between KwaZakhele and Motherwell in Gqeberha.
The head-on collision involved a Renault Triber carrying three men and four women travelling from KwaZakhele towards Motherwell, and a Fuso manganese truck with only the driver on board travelling in the opposite direction.
All seven occupants of the Renault Triber were declared dead on the scene, while the truck driver survived the crash with injuries.
The cause of the incident was still under investigation, and a case of culpable homicide was opened at the Swartkops police station.
Eastern Cape Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha called on road users to “exercise extreme caution, remain patient, and respect the rules of the road, particularly during this high traffic period”.
READ | Road deaths decline, but Creecy warns against complacency this Easter
He said his department was “committed to intensifying law enforcement operations to improve road safety and prevent further loss of life”.
“We are deeply saddened by this devastating loss of seven lives in a single incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones in such tragic circumstances,” he said.
The department has urged motorists to approach the area with caution or use alternative routes.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced on Thursday that the number of road traffic deaths was down between 20 and 30 March, the period leading up to Easter, considered the most dangerous time of year for fatal road accidents.
She said the death toll was 291, down from 356 last year, and the number of fatal crashes was 255, down from 306 in 2025.
Creecy said the Free State and Eastern Cape were the only provinces which did not see a reduction in fatal crashes and deaths during the 10 days.
Thania Dhoogra, chief operating officer of N3 Toll Concession, warned that the demands on drivers increase as traffic volumes rise, especially after long hours on the road, when fatigue sets in, or after darkness falls. She warned drivers to avoid last-minute or nighttime travel if possible.
