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Five people have died and another was seriously injured after a VW Polo crashed into a roadside barrier on the R612 near Ixopo in southern KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday night.

According to KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma, the crash occurred at about 9.10pm and claimed the lives of three women and two men.

Duma described the collision as a “very serious accident” based on a preliminary report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).

“The RTI has handed over this matter to the South African Police Service Accident Unit for investigation,” he said.

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He added that a culpable homicide case would be investigated by SAPS, with officers expected to reconstruct the crash to determine its cause.

One other occupant sustained serious injuries.

Duma extended his condolences to the victims’ families and said he had instructed his office and the department’s road safety directorate to help locate and support the bereaved families.

The fatal crash comes just a week after six people died in another accident involving a VW Polo in Newcastle.

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The MEC said the latest tragedy underscored the need for the department’s recently reconfigured road safety campaign, which focuses on enforcement, education, engineering and evaluation to reduce road fatalities.