A tragic chain of events on the N1 near Bela-Bela has left multiple people dead after the official vehicle transporting Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi became involved in a fatal collision involving a woman and her two children.
The devastating incident, which unfolded on Saturday night, is now being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate after police confirmed that two separate culpable homicide cases had been opened.
According to the South African Police Service, the tragedy began when an off-duty police officer allegedly struck and killed a man on the busy highway near Bela-Bela.
Moments later, the deceased man’s wife reportedly attempted to cross the road with her two children in a desperate effort to reach the scene where her husband had died. Police say one of the children was a baby strapped to the woman’s back.
“It is further alleged that while crossing the road, the woman and her children were involved in a collision with the minister’s official vehicle,” SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
The collision resulted in the deaths of the mother and her baby, while the second child survived with injuries.
Police confirmed that the state vehicle carrying Motsoaledi was being driven by a member attached to the Protection Security Services unit. The minister, his driver and his close protection officer reportedly stopped immediately after the crash and remained at the scene until emergency services arrived.
“In line with standard protocol, the minister’s close protector and the driver immediately stopped at the scene together with the minister and remained there until police and emergency medical services arrived,” Mathe explained.
Authorities have since gathered statements from witnesses as investigators work to determine the exact circumstances surrounding both crashes.
Because both drivers involved are members of SAPS, the matter has been handed over to Ipid for an independent investigation.
The heartbreaking sequence of events has stunned many South Africans, with one family losing several loved ones within a matter of moments on one of the country’s busiest roads.
Police have conveyed condolences to the grieving family as investigations continue into the tragedy.
