Durban – Five people died when their VW Polo crashed into the roadside barrier and overturned along the R612 towards Ixopo, South of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
One other person was seriously injured when the careering car crashed into the roadside barrier.
“Once again, we have a dark cloud hanging over KwaZulu-Natal following the death of five people in a horrific accident involving another VW Polo,” KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said early on Sunday morning, 19 July 2026.
A weekend ago, six people died in another horrific accident involving a VW Polo in Newcastle.
“The accident occurred along the R612 towards Ixopo, South of KZN, around 21h10 last night,” MEC Duma said.
He added that based on a preliminary report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) team, the crash was categorised as a very serious accident, as it had claimed the lives of five people—three females and two males.
RTI has handed over this matter to the South African Police Service Accident Unit for further investigation.
“We wish to send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” MEC Duma said.
“I have assigned my office and a team from the Road Safety Directorate to locate the families of the victims.”
It was later learned that the injured person died in the hospital.
