
A string of devastating incidents has rocked South Africa, leaving many to wonder if the country is experiencing a streak of bad luck. The recent visit of American singer Chris Brown has been followed by an alarming increase in cases of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and road accidents.
One of the most recent incidents was a horrific road accident in Limpopo Province, which claimed the lives of seven people and injured five others on 22 December 2024. The collision involved seven cars, including a minibus, and occurred on the N1 highway near Ga-Phasha village.
In another shocking incident, a man identified as Sbusiso Lawrence brutally murdered his girlfriend and posted a graphic video of the crime online on 18 December 2024.
A double murder occurred in Umgababa, Durban, on 20 December 2024, when a man killed his wife and child before taking his own life.
A 37-year-old woman was stabbed by her husband in a separate incident after he discovered her in their bedroom with their neighbour. Their 3-year-old child was sleeping on the floor in the same room.
Furthermore, a head-on collision in Eastern Cape Province resulted in 12 fatalities and several injuries. The crash involved a minibus taxi and a pickup truck on the N2 road near Dutywa town. This incident brought the total number of fatalities on Eastern Cape roads to 23 from four separate accidents on Saturday alone. Police have opened a culpable homicide case for further investigation.