Five-year-old boy among seven killed in Eastern Cape N2 crash

A tragic head-on crash occurred on the N2 highway in the Eastern Cape on Friday, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including a five-year-old boy. The Suzuki seven-seater, carrying eight passengers, collided with a Toyota Corolla between the Kei Cuttings and Ndabakazi. Among the deceased were two women and five men, with the boy being the youngest victim.

The only survivor from the Suzuki was rushed to the hospital, along with the seriously injured driver of the Corolla. Eastern Cape transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose attributed the crash to drunk driving and poor visibility caused by misty weather conditions. Motorists were advised to exercise caution, reduce their speed, and follow instructions from law enforcement officials.

In the aftermath of the crash, two additional vehicles, a Mazda SUV and a Mercedes-Benz sedan, were involved in secondary collisions, with their occupants suffering only minor injuries. Emergency rescue teams swiftly arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance to the injured and manage the aftermath of the incident. The same stretch of the N2 has witnessed several devastating road disasters in recent years.

In August 2021, a double-decker bus traveling from Cape Town to Mthatha overturned, killing 30 people, including three children under the age of four. In June 2024, four individuals, including a police member, lost their lives when five vehicles collided near the Kei Cuttings. More recently, in May 2025, seven people, six women and a man, were killed when a minibus taxi allegedly made a U-turn in front of an oncoming bus.

The deadliest incident of all occurred at the end of 2025, when two bakkies and a minibus taxi collided on the R61 outside Mthatha, claiming the lives of seven people, six women and a man.