The village of Maniini, outside Thohoyandou, has been plunged into mourning after a car crash claimed the lives of four local residents.
The tragedy came barely a week after a bus accident on the N1 near Louis Trichardt that killed 44 people. It happened during October — Transport Month — when road-safety awareness is supposed to be at its height.
The latest accident occurred when the vehicle in which the victims were travelling overturned along the R524 Punda Maria Road near the Acacia Park robots at around 08:00 on Sunday, 19 October.
According to information received, the group — friends and relatives from Maniini — had earlier been socialising at a local pub and were on their way to buy food in Thohoyandou.
The driver of the car, who is believed to have been speeding, reportedly lost control before the vehicle rolled several times. When it came to a halt, four of the occupants lay dead in a nearby field beside the mangled wreck. Three others were taken to a local hospital. Two have since been discharged while one remains hospitalised.
So far, only three of the deceased — Zwiswa Sumbulukwane (20), Uhone Tshifaro (27) and Blondy Sithakha — have been identified.
Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed that the Thohoyandou police had opened a culpable-homicide docket, following the crash.
"Information we have is that a blue Chevrolet Sonic overturned with seven people inside. Four were declared dead at the scene, and three were taken to the local hospital," he said.
Dathi said the deceased had been taken to the local government mortuary for autopsies. Police investigations are continuing.
Limpopo Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison official Mr Tshifhiwa Dali expressed the department's condolences to the bereaved families. "It is quite sad, as it comes during Transport Month, and despite all our campaigns on road safety, all seems in vain. We are still fresh from a major bus accident that claimed many lives, and now this. We call upon all our drivers to be vigilant and to obey the rules of the road," he said.
Vhavenda Vho Victor Nnditsheni Mmbi of the local royal house also expressed his sadness. "Our hearts are in pain. Those who passed on are young people with bright futures ahead of them. These children were supposed to be the future leaders in different spheres, but they are now gone. This is the first incident where so many people have died at once in our village. We are deeply saddened and in mourning. We will await the police investigations to understand what happened. As a village, we have decided to centralise our daily prayers and will welcome any assistance to give the departed a dignified send-off," he said.
Thulamela Mayor Sarah Rambuda on Monday, 20 October, visited the families of the deceased to offer her condolences.
Meanwhile, the police are appealing to anyone with information about the crash to contact the investigating officer, Sgt Talifhani Makhuvha, on 082 469 1397.