Fifteen Killed in Tragic Eastern Cape Road Accident

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Eastern Cape

Fifteen people have lost their lives, and five others have been injured in a devastating head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a bakkie in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The tragic accident occurred at midnight on Saturday, May 3, 2025, on the R63 road between Adelaide and Maqoma, formerly known as Fort Beaufort. This incident has been described as one of the deadliest crashes in the region in recent years.

Incident Details

The minibus taxi, traveling from Qonce to Cape Town, collided with a bakkie in a head-on crash. The driver of the bakkie and 13 passengers in the minibus, including its driver, were pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency services rushed six injured passengers from the minibus to the hospital, but one succumbed to their injuries upon arrival, bringing the total death toll to 15. The five remaining survivors are receiving medical treatment.

Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose highlighted the severity of the incident, stating, “This is by far the deadliest crash we’ve witnessed in the Eastern Cape in a long, long time, not even in December or during the recent Easter holidays did we see one crash that has claimed so many lives.” The scale of this tragedy has shocked the local community and raised urgent questions about road safety in the region.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities have opened an inquest docket to investigate the cause of the collision. Preliminary reports indicate a head-on impact, but further details—such as potential factors like driver error, vehicle conditions, or road hazards—remain under review. The investigation aims to provide clarity to the grieving families and prevent future incidents on this stretch of the R63 road.

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