16 victims of the Motetema horrific accident remembered

The Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality in Limpopo on Tuesday held a solemn commemoration ceremony to honour the 16 people who tragically lost their lives in a devastating crash on the R579 on 03 March 2023.

The horrific accident occurred when a minibus taxi attempted to overtake unsafely before the Leeuwfontein T-junction in Motetema, near Groblersdal.

The taxi collided head-on with a truck and another minibus taxi, resulting in the loss of 16 lives.

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The commemoration, led by Mayor David Tladi, served both as a tribute to the victims and as a renewed call for responsible driving, unity within the community, and moral regeneration.

During the ceremony, Mayor Tladi, together with the Moral Regeneration Movement and grieving families, laid flowers at the scene to honour the victims, paying tribute to their memory and standing in solidarity with the bereaved families.

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Tladi, who attended the ceremony on his birthday as a personal act of solidarity, provided a solemn space for healing and reinforced a collective commitment to protecting lives on the roads.

“Today was my birthday, but I decided to celebrate it in a different way, by joining the community to honour the 16 lives lost in this tragic crash,” said Tladi.

“It was a day to mourn, reflect, and reaffirm our responsibility to protect one another on our roads.”

“This tragedy strengthened our resolve to drive responsibly, obey the rules of the road, and value every life. We encouraged all road users to always obey road laws and ensure that everyone on our roads remained safe. Together, we turned our grief into action.”