The 47-year-old driver was arrested for culpable homicide after he had allegedly lost control and collided with the oncoming minibus taxi on the N1 road next to Candy Farm, 22 km from Verkeerdevlei, towards Winburg on Monday. This resulted in the death of 13 people, including the taxi driver. The truck driver travelled from Postmasburg to Durban while the minibus Quantum travelled from Johannesburg to Sterkspruit. Provincial police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng, said a baby boy and three girls were all certified dead on the scene. He added that one boy and two girls, aged between 10 and 12 years old, were admitted to the Pelonomi Trauma Hospital with serious injuries.

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“As a result of the head-on collision between a truck and a mini-bus, 13 people were certified dead and three children were admitted with serious injuries. At this stage, the suspect, a 47-year-old driver, was arrested for culpable homicide and he will be appearing on 14 December 2022 in the Brandfort Magistrate's Court,” added Thakeng.  

ALSO READ: Collision could have been avoided - opposition criticises department

Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the EFF and ActionSA, raised concerns about the lack of traffic officials on various provincial and national roads. The EFF’s provincial secretary, Malefane Msimanga, said one of the contributing factors is the non-visibility of traffic officers on the roads. Whilst ActionSA's Free State provincial chairperson, Patricia Kopane, also raised concerns and said ActionSA would continue its call on National Government and all rail agencies to fix the rail system urgently. 

Yesterday, the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport launched a road safety campaign and 80 fines were issued and 3 illegal immigrants were arrested.

ALSO READ: Free State road safety campaign starts off with 80 cases

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