Six Dead, Six Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision on R61 in Eastern Cape

Anneliese van der Merwe Published 7 seconds ago

3 min read

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Six people have died and six others have sustained serious injuries following a head-on collision involving a minibus taxi and a truck on the R61 outside Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape on Saturday, 24 October 2026.

The collision occurred approximately 30 kilometres outside Aberdeen in the direction of Beaufort West.

All six fatalities were female passengers travelling in the minibus taxi. They died at the scene.

Six Injured People Taken to Hospital

The six injured people were transported to Graaff-Reinet Provincial Hospital for medical treatment. Their injuries were described as serious in the initial incident reports.

Further details about the identities of those killed and injured had not been released in the information available at the time of publication.

Minibus Taxi Was Travelling From Beaufort West

Information from the Eastern Cape Transport Department indicated that a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi carrying 16 passengers was travelling from Beaufort West in the Western Cape towards the Eastern Cape when it collided head-on with an articulated truck.

A subsequent collision involving a Kia Rio was also reported. An occupant of the Kia Rio was among those injured, while the drivers and occupants of the other vehicles involved in the subsequent collision reportedly escaped unharmed.

Possible Contributing Factor Under Investigation

Driver fatigue is among the suspected contributing factors in the crash. However, the precise circumstances leading to the collision have not been conclusively established.

Police have opened a case of culpable homicide as investigations continue. No final determination of responsibility for the crash had been reported in the available information.

Investigation Continues

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision on the R61 near Aberdeen.

Further information, including the identities of the deceased and additional findings about the cause of the collision, may be released as the investigation progresses.

This report is based on information available on 24 October 2026. Details may be updated as authorities release further information.

OTHER NEWS

Suspect Arrested After Alleged Attempted Vehicle Break-In at Campbrook Close Property

A suspect has been arrested following an alleged attempted vehicle break-in at a residential property on Campbrook Close after a security company responded to a panic activation in the early hours of Saturday, 24 October 2026.

According to the available incident report, KZN VIP response officers were alerted to the property at approximately 01:20 after the company’s control centre received a panic signal.

Controllers contacted the property’s keyholder, who reportedly informed them that an intruder was on the premises. Response officers were immediately dispatched to investigate.

Upon arrival, the officers searched the property and found a man hiding near the homeowner’s vehicle at the front of the premises. The suspect was apprehended and detained.

A subsequent review of CCTV footage reportedly showed the suspect climbing over the property’s front boundary wall before attempting to gain access to the vehicle.

The attempted break-in was unsuccessful. The panic activation alerted the security company’s control centre, prompting the response that led to the suspect being located on the property.

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) attended the scene, and the matter was handed over to police for further investigation.

The available report did not specify whether the suspect had appeared in court, what charges he may face, or whether any further arrests were anticipated.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain subject to the police investigation. An arrest does not, in itself, establish guilt, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.