At least 21 people have been killed in a multi-vehicle crash in South Africa’s Western Cape province, in one of the country’s latest deadly road accidents.
The collision involved two minibus taxis and an SUV and occurred on the highway between Leeu-Gamka and Prince Albert, about 380 kilometres northeast of Cape Town.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation confirmed that 21 people sustained fatal injuries in the crash, which occurred late Sunday night.
Local media reports said the vehicles collided at around 9:30 p.m., forcing authorities to shut the highway as emergency teams responded to the scene.
Police have opened a culpable homicide investigation, while several other people injured in the crash were taken to hospital for treatment.
The accident has once again highlighted South Africa’s persistent road safety challenges, despite the country having one of the continent’s most developed road networks.
Speeding, reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles and failure to use seat belts remain among the major factors blamed for the country’s high road death toll.
Data from the Road Traffic Management Corporation show that 11,485 people were killed in road crashes across South Africa in 2025 — a decline of more than five percent from the previous year.
Authorities continue to urge motorists to exercise greater caution, particularly on major highways where high speeds and dangerous driving can quickly turn fatal.
