Traffic

Truck driver killed in head-on crash on the N2 about 50km from Mkhondo (Piet Retief) to Pongola.

PrimeTime News Desk Published 6 May 2026

2 min read

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A head-on collision occurred on the N2 highway in the Mkhondo (formerly Piet Retief) area of Mpumalanga, South Africa, resulting in at least one fatality.

The incident took place approximately in the vicinity of Maduzane and Ajax, near the Commondale turnoff towards Pongola, roughly 50 km along the route from Mkhondo toward Pongola.

A VW Polo travelling at high speed crossed into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a truck. Footage from the truck showed the Polo suddenly entering the truck’s lane with limited reaction time available.

The driver of the VW Polo was killed on impact. The truck driver sustained injuries, received treatment at the scene, and was transported for further medical care. Following the collision, the truck swerved, lost control, overturned onto its side, and spilled its load of coal across the roadway.

Emergency services, including the Mkhondo Traffic Department, responded to the scene. The road was closed for recovery operations. All traffic is diverted to Paulpietersburg/Vryheid/Pongola and must travel the same route when coming from Pongola /Vryheid/Paulpietersburg.

Investigations into the exact cause of the crash, including factors such as speed, driver actions, road conditions, and visibility, remain ongoing. Authorities have called for motorists to exercise caution on the N2 route, particularly in early morning hours.

This section of the N2 between Mkhondo/Piet Retief and Pongola has seen multiple prior collisions involving heavy vehicles and lighter motor vehicles. No additional confirmed fatalities or injuries from this exact event beyond those noted have been reported.