South Africa Taxis: 1 Day, 2 Crashes, 14 Dead

And they are just the serious ones that were reported through the news media and the South African Press Association - Sapa.

Fourteen people died on Dec 1 2013 and seven were injured when two taxis collided on the N12 near Klerksdorp, North West. A 14th died in hospital. Two of the dead were the drivers - eight of the their victims were children.

'Comply With Laws'

Public safety department spokesman Ben Bole said the driver of one of the taxis tried to overtake four cars at once. He - and many of his customers - just didn't make it.

North West public safety MEC Nono Maloyi trotted out the usual meaningless government platitudes: exercise patience, comply with traffic laws.

Maloyi said: "Overtaking in an unsafe area is regarded as negligent driving and this leads to accidents. Losing 14 at once is too much and we are not going to allow that."

Maloyi said reckless drivers would be dealt with. Unfortunately those in N12 crash won't be appearing in court, but rather at autopsies and funerals.

He sent condolences to the families and friends of those who died. Perhaps, as in other cases, the state will garner approbation by paying for funerals.

The Other Crash...

This one was in Randburg. A taxi veered off the road, mowed down a pedestrian and crashed into a wall on Witkoppen Road and 21 people were injured; 19 went to hospital and one, the pedestrian, was helicoptered to hospital and was in a critical condition.