Four people were killed and 17 others injured in two separate crashes on the N1 in Limpopo on Friday, 28 August, the provincial Department of Transport and Community Safety said.
Multiple-vehicle crash near Modimolle Mountain
The first collision, a multi-vehicle crash near Modimolle Mountain in the Waterberg District, resulted in the deaths of three men and multiple injuries, the department’s spokesman, Mashudu Mabata, reported. Vehicles involved included a Toyota sedan, a GWM light delivery vehicle and a Mercedes-Benz.
Mabata said the crash left several people injured. According to the department’s account, four people sustained slight injuries while another person suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
The N1 northbound at the scene was partially closed. Mabata said traffic was being diverted onto the R33 through Modimolle, joining the R101 before rejoining the N1 at Middlefontein, while the southbound lane was partially open with traffic permitted to pass in the slow lane.
Head-on collision near Polokwane involving SAPS minibus
In a separate collision near Polokwane, a head-on crash between a SAPS Toyota minibus and a Toyota Starlet next to Astron Garage left one person dead and 12 others injured, Mabata said.
“The driver of the Starlet died after the vehicle caught fire and was burnt beyond recognition,” Mabata said.
He added that the 12 occupants of the SAPS minibus were taken to hospital: eight suffered serious injuries and four sustained slight injuries. The SAPS minibus also caught fire at the front following the collision. The N1 at the Astron Garage location has since been cleared and reopened to traffic, Mabata said.
Road safety and traffic management
The provincial Department of Transport and Community Safety extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery, according to Mabata. He urged motorists to exercise extreme caution on the N1 and to obey traffic rules and directions from officials at crash scenes.
- Planned diversions: Northbound traffic near Modimolle was rerouted via the R33 and R101 to Middlefontein.
- Current status: The stretch near Astron Garage by Polokwane has been cleared and is open to traffic.
- Advice to motorists: Reduce speed, leave sufficient stopping distance, and follow instructions from emergency crews at crash scenes.
Local impact and context
The N1 is the main arterial route linking Gauteng with the northern provinces and serves both commercial and commuter traffic. Disruptions on this route affect freight movement and long-distance travel, particularly on Fridays when interprovincial traffic typically increases. Road crashes that involve emergency or law-enforcement vehicles, as in the Polokwane collision, raise additional concerns about scene safety and the welfare of first responders.
Emergency services, including ambulance teams and police, were dispatched to both scenes. Hospitals in Modimolle and Polokwane received the injured; Mabata confirmed that those with serious injuries required further medical attention.
What motorists should know now
| Location | Impact |
|---|---|
| Modimolle Mountain (N1 northbound) | Partial closure; diversion via R33 → R101 to Middlefontein |
| Polokwane (near Astron Garage) | Cleared and reopened; collision involved SAPS minibus and Starlet |
Motorists planning travel along the N1 are advised to check for traffic updates from provincial traffic authorities and to allow extra time for journeys while emergency and recovery operations continue in affected areas.
Further details, including the identification of the deceased and the causes of the collisions, were not provided by the department at the time of its briefing. The department reiterated its call for road users to remain vigilant and to adhere to the rules of the road.
(Reporting from Polokwane.)
