Two people died in a violent collision on the N12 highway just after 4:00 AM on Monday, November 24, 2025, when a sedan and an SUV slammed into each other on the rain-slicked Comaro on-ramp heading toward Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The crash, fueled by torrential rain and howling winds, left one driver and one SUV passenger dead at the scene — their bodies recovered by emergency crews using the Jaws of Life. Three others were rushed to hospitals, one in critical condition. The timing couldn’t have been worse: it was the heart of morning rush hour, just as commuters were racing to catch flights at OR Tambo International Airport, barely 20 kilometers away.
Chaos on the N12 Amid Deadly Weather
The N12, a vital artery connecting Johannesburg to the economic engine of Ekurhuleni and South Africa’s busiest airport, turned into a scene of devastation. Rain had been falling steadily since midnight, turning asphalt into a sheet of ice. Visibility dropped to under 50 meters in places. Emergency responders from Ekurhuleni Emergency Services arrived within five minutes, but the wreckage was catastrophic. "The sedan was crushed like a tin can," said Maswati Mdluli, Official Spokesperson for the service. "We had to cut through metal to reach the bodies. One passenger was trapped so badly, we lost him before we could pull him out."
By 6:30 AM, the road was fully closed. Traffic backed up for over 12 kilometers. Taxi operators reported passengers abandoning vehicles and walking to bus stops. Airlines reported missed connections and frustrated travelers stranded in terminals. "I had a flight to Cape Town at 6:15," said Thabo Nkosi, a businessman waiting at the airport. "I left home at 3:30. By 4:45, I was stuck in my car, watching the rain pour and hearing sirens. I didn’t make it."
Emergency Response Under Pressure
Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, a division of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, deployed fire, rescue, and paramedic units immediately. The agency, which covers Germiston, Benoni, and Springs — a population of over 3.5 million — has been stretched thin this rainy season. "We’ve responded to seven major crashes on the N12 alone since mid-November," Mdluli confirmed. "This one was the deadliest."
The Gauteng Forensic Pathology Services arrived to retrieve the deceased, while three survivors were transported to hospitals in Kempton Park and Benoni. One, a 22-year-old woman from Springs, remains in intensive care with internal injuries. Two others, a man and a teenager, are stable but in serious condition.
Who’s Investigating? And Why This Keeps Happening
The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department has taken over the investigation. Preliminary reports suggest excessive speed and hydroplaning were factors — but no official determination has been made. "We’re looking at vehicle conditions, driver behavior, and whether road markings were visible," said EMPD spokesperson Captain Lerato Mokoena. "We’ll also check if the drainage system failed at that curve."
This crash isn’t isolated. In early November, a similar collision on the N3 near Brakpan killed three people. In October, two teens died when their car skidded off the R21 near Midrand. Each time, the same warning is issued: slow down. Increase distance. Turn on headlights. But drivers, especially those commuting to jobs or flights, often ignore it. "It’s not just rain," said Dr. Naledi Khumalo, a road safety researcher at the University of Johannesburg. "It’s complacency. People think they know the road. They don’t. Wet roads reduce stopping distance by up to 40%. And the N12? It’s a death trap when it’s slick."
What’s Being Done — And What Isn’t
While emergency services respond, long-term fixes are slow. The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), which manages the N12, says it’s scheduled to upgrade drainage at the Comaro interchange in Q2 2026 — but that’s months away. For now, there’s no real-time weather alert system for drivers on this stretch. No variable speed signs. No flashing warnings. Just the occasional road sign that reads "WET ROAD - SLOW DOWN," long faded by sun and rain.
"We’re not asking for miracles," said Mdluli. "We’re asking for the basics: better drainage, proper signage, and drivers who remember that rain isn’t just inconvenient — it’s lethal."
What’s Next?
Authorities expect more crashes. The rainy season isn’t over. Forecasts show more heavy showers through early December. The City of Ekurhuleni has activated its 24-hour emergency hotline: 011-458-0911. They’re urging commuters to delay non-essential travel, especially before dawn. And they’re asking the public: if you see a car swerving or driving too fast in the rain — call it in.
For now, the N12 remains closed at the Comaro on-ramp. A makeshift memorial of flowers and candles has begun to form near the crash site. A single shoe lies on the shoulder. No one knows whose it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many weather-related crashes have occurred in Gauteng this season?
At least 11 major crashes linked to heavy rain have been recorded in Gauteng since October 2025, resulting in 17 fatalities and over 30 injuries. The N12, N3, and R21 corridors have seen the highest concentration, with the Comaro on-ramp becoming a known hazard point. Emergency services confirm a 65% increase in wet-weather incidents compared to the same period last year.
Why is the N12 particularly dangerous in rain?
The N12 at Comaro features a sharp curve with outdated drainage, causing water to pool during heavy rain. Combined with high traffic volume — over 80,000 vehicles daily — and frequent speeding, the stretch becomes a hydroplaning hotspot. Many drivers don’t realize the curve’s banking is insufficient for wet conditions, and road markings often wash away before repairs are made.
Who is responsible for maintaining the N12’s road safety features?
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) manages the N12’s infrastructure, including signage, drainage, and pavement. However, maintenance budgets have been cut by 22% since 2023. Local municipalities like Ekurhuleni handle traffic policing, but lack authority to upgrade road design — creating a dangerous gap in accountability.
What should drivers do if caught in heavy rain on the N12?
Slow down to at least 30% below the posted speed limit. Turn on headlights — even in daylight. Avoid sudden braking or steering. Keep a 10-second gap behind the car ahead. If you feel your car sliding, ease off the accelerator, don’t brake, and steer gently in the direction you want to go. And if you’re not in a hurry — wait it out. No flight, no job, no appointment is worth your life.
Are there any warning systems in place for drivers?
Currently, no real-time weather alerts are displayed on the N12 near Comaro. Unlike highways in Cape Town or KwaZulu-Natal, there are no electronic message boards or automated sirens triggered by rainfall sensors. The City of Ekurhuleni relies on radio broadcasts and social media — which many commuters don’t monitor before dawn. A pilot program for smart signage was proposed in 2024 but remains unfunded.
How can the public help prevent future crashes?
Report dangerous driving immediately via the emergency hotline 011-458-0911. If you see a car speeding in heavy rain near Comaro, note the license plate and call. Also, demand better infrastructure from local councillors — especially ahead of the next rainy season. Public pressure has already prompted repairs on the R554. The N12 shouldn’t be left behind.
Posts Comments
Sabir Malik November 26, 2025 AT 21:58
My heart goes out to the families affected - this is the kind of tragedy that sticks with you for years. I’ve driven that stretch before, especially during monsoon season back home in Kolkata. The way the rain hits those curves, it’s like the road disappears. You just have to slow down, but everyone’s in a rush. No one wants to be late for work, for a flight, for anything. But when the water pools like that, speed isn’t bravery - it’s a death wish. We need real-time alerts, not just faded signs. And drainage? It’s not rocket science. It’s basic civil engineering. Why does it always take bodies to make people care?
I’m not saying it’s hopeless. It’s just that we keep treating symptoms instead of the disease. Fix the curve. Install sensors. Light up the road when it rains. These aren’t luxuries - they’re lifelines. And if we can put satellites in orbit, we can damn well fix a highway.
Debsmita Santra November 28, 2025 AT 10:43
It’s insane how we normalize this kind of loss like it’s just part of the commute. I’ve seen the same signs on the N12 for years - WET ROAD SLOW DOWN - and they’re so faded you need a magnifying glass to read them. Meanwhile, the drainage system at Comaro hasn’t been upgraded since the 90s. We’re not talking about a pothole here. We’re talking about a death trap that’s been ignored because it’s not glamorous enough for the news cycle. And don’t get me started on the budget cuts. SANRAL’s been bleeding funds since 2023 and no one’s holding them accountable. This isn’t bad luck. This is systemic neglect. We need transparency. We need audits. We need consequences. Not just prayers and candles.
And yes I know it’s easy to say ‘slow down’ but when you’ve got a kid in the backseat and a 6am flight to catch, you don’t think about hydroplaning. You think about survival. The system should protect you - not force you to gamble with your life.
Vasudha Kamra November 29, 2025 AT 07:09
The data is clear: wet-weather crashes have increased by 65% year-over-year. This is not an anomaly. It is a predictable outcome of underinvestment in infrastructure and a culture of complacency. The N12’s Comaro curve was flagged as a high-risk zone in the 2022 Gauteng Transport Safety Report. Yet no action was taken. Drainage failure, insufficient banking, and degraded signage are not random events - they are indicators of institutional failure. The victims deserve more than condolences. They deserve justice through systemic reform. We must demand that SANRAL publish its maintenance schedules publicly and that the Department of Transport enforce accountability metrics. No more delays. No more excuses. Lives are not expendable.
Abhinav Rawat November 29, 2025 AT 11:35
You know what’s wild? We’ve got apps that tell us when the next bus is coming, and AI that predicts if we’re gonna like a song - but we still drive on roads that could kill us in a downpour and nobody thinks that’s weird. We’ve optimized everything except the thing that literally moves us. The N12 isn’t just asphalt. It’s a mirror. It shows us what we value. And right now, we value speed over safety, convenience over care, and silence over accountability. I wonder if the people who designed this curve ever drove it in the rain. Or if they just signed off on a blueprint and moved on to the next project. Maybe they thought, ‘Someone else will fix it.’
But someone else never shows up. And now two people are gone. And a shoe is just sitting there on the shoulder. Who does that belong to? And why are we still waiting for someone else to answer?
Shashi Singh November 30, 2025 AT 22:22
THIS ISN’T AN ACCIDENT - IT’S A COVER-UP!!! 🚨
Who owns SANRAL? Who funds the emergency services? Who benefits when people die on the N12? I’ve got sources - INSIDE SOURCES - and let me tell you, the drainage system at Comaro was deliberately left broken because the contractors got paid to ‘inspect’ it… not fix it. The same companies that got the contract for the R21 upgrade? They’re the ones who won the N12 bid. And guess what? They’ve got ties to a certain minister’s cousin. The rain didn’t kill them. The corruption did. The police report? Already buried. The forensic team? Paid to ‘lose’ the tire tread evidence. And the ‘faded signs’? They were painted over with a special non-reflective coating - the kind that only shows up under UV light… which no one has. Why? Because they don’t want you to see how dangerous it is. They want you to die quietly.
Call 011-458-0911? Nah. Call the press. Call Interpol. Call anyone who won’t take a bribe. This isn’t just about a highway - it’s about a system that sells lives for contracts. And I’m not letting this slide. #N12Massacre #SANRALGuilt
Surbhi Kanda December 1, 2025 AT 22:35
Let’s cut through the noise. The problem isn’t the rain. The problem is the lack of enforcement. Speed cameras on the N12? Nonexistent. Real-time speed alerts? Not even a pilot. The police don’t patrol this stretch during rain because they’re understaffed - but they’ll show up to ticket you for a broken taillight. That’s not negligence. That’s prioritization. We need automated speed enforcement triggered by rainfall sensors. We need mandatory vehicle safety checks for high-risk corridors. We need penalties for fleets that allow drivers to exceed limits in adverse conditions. And we need to stop treating this like a ‘tragedy’ and start treating it like a preventable crime. No more ‘we’re investigating.’ Show us the evidence. Or shut up.
Sandhiya Ravi December 3, 2025 AT 19:17
I just want to say I’m so sorry for the families. I’ve been driving this route for years and I always slow down - but I never thought it would be this bad. I saw a car spin out last week just past the tollgate. I stopped and helped the guy get his car straightened. He was shaking. Said he was late for his daughter’s school play. I told him, ‘You can miss the play. You can’t miss tomorrow.’
People need to hear this. Not from a news report. Not from a government memo. From someone who’s been there. Rain doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor. It doesn’t care if you’re going to work or to the airport. It just wants you to slow down. And if you don’t? It takes. And it doesn’t ask for permission.
So please. If you’re reading this - next time it rains, give yourself that extra 10 minutes. Your life is worth it.
JAYESH KOTADIYA December 4, 2025 AT 19:20
Bro… this is why we need to stop pretending SA is a ‘developing’ country. We’re not developing. We’re decaying. Look at the N12 - it’s a joke. You got people driving like they’re in a Mario Kart game while the road’s basically a slip’n’slide. And the worst part? The taxi drivers? They’re the ones who know the road best - and they’re the ones getting killed. Meanwhile, the politicians are sipping champagne at the airport lounge while families cry in hospital waiting rooms. 🤡
Also… why is the airport still open during this? They should shut it down. No flights. No excuses. Let the whole country stop. Maybe then they’ll listen.
Also also… someone please fix the drainage. I’m not asking for much. Just… don’t let the road turn into a river. 🙏
Vikash Kumar December 5, 2025 AT 14:19
Classic. Rain. Crash. Death. Then a memorial. Then silence. Rinse. Repeat.
People die on the N12 every rainy season. You think this is new? It’s been happening since 2010. No one cared then. They won’t care now. Just wait - by next week, it’ll be trending again. Then forgotten. Then another body. Then another hashtag.
Wake up. This isn’t fate. It’s failure. And failure has a name. It’s called ‘business as usual.’
Siddharth Gupta December 5, 2025 AT 18:34
Man… I’ve been on that road at 4am after a long shift. Rain pouring. Headlights barely cutting through. You just breathe and pray.
But here’s the thing - we’re all part of this. I used to speed too. Thought I was fine. Then I hydroplaned near Springs. Just floated. For like three seconds. Felt like flying. Then I slammed the wheel. Thank God I didn’t hit anything.
That’s when I changed. Now I leave 45 minutes early. I turn on my lights even at noon. I tell my friends: ‘If you’re rushing, you’re already dead.’
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present. The road doesn’t forgive. But you can still choose to be careful.
Rest in peace to those who didn’t get that chance. And to everyone else? Don’t wait for a tragedy to wake up.
Anoop Singh December 6, 2025 AT 08:10
Why are you all so dramatic? It’s just a car crash. People die all the time. You think the government’s gonna fix it? Please. They’re too busy taking bribes to repave the roads. I saw a guy on TikTok driving through the flood like it was a water park. No helmet. No seatbelt. Just vibes. That’s the real problem - not the rain. The people. They’re all reckless. Just stop complaining and drive slower. Or don’t drive at all. Problem solved.
Also, the shoe? Probably someone’s sneaker from a taxi. Don’t romanticize it.
Omkar Salunkhe December 6, 2025 AT 23:04
Wait wait wait - the article says ‘two died’ but then says ‘three rushed to hospital’ - so why are we only counting two deaths? Maybe one of them died later? Or maybe the article is lying? And who says the sedan was crushed like a tin can? Who saw that? The emergency crew? Or did they just make it up for drama? Also, why is the airport 20km away? That’s not even close - it’s 18.3km according to Google Maps. And why is the time 4:00am? Was it 3:58? 4:02? Did they even check the timestamp?
And who the hell is ‘Maswati Mdluli’? Is that even a real name? Or is it a made-up spokesperson? This whole thing feels like a PR stunt. I’m not buying it. #FakeNews
raja kumar December 8, 2025 AT 14:48
In my village in Bihar, we say: ‘The road remembers who drives it.’ This crash isn’t just about a curve or a downpour. It’s about how we treat each other’s lives. In India, we know what it means to wait - for trains, for buses, for justice. We wait because we have to. But here, on this road, people don’t wait. They rush. And in that rush, they forget that the person next to them is someone’s son, someone’s mother, someone’s dream.
I don’t know if the road will change. But maybe we can. Maybe we can slow down. Maybe we can call out reckless driving. Maybe we can say, ‘I’m not going today.’ Not because we’re scared. But because we care.
Let the shoe rest. Let the flowers grow. And let us be better than the road we drive on.
Sumit Prakash Gupta December 10, 2025 AT 02:48
Hydroplaning thresholds are a function of tire tread depth, vehicle mass, and surface friction coefficient - all of which are compromised in this scenario. The N12’s asphalt mix, particularly at Comaro, exhibits a low macrotexture depth (MTD) of 0.8mm, below the 1.2mm minimum recommended by the World Bank’s Road Safety Guidelines. Combined with a 4.5% gradient curve and insufficient longitudinal drainage gradient (0.3% vs. 0.8% required), this creates a perfect storm for dynamic water film formation. The lack of real-time pavement condition monitoring (PCMS) and absence of variable message signs (VMS) further exacerbate risk exposure. Mitigation requires immediate implementation of high-friction surface treatments (HFST), embedded rainfall sensors, and automated speed enforcement synchronized with meteorological data. Delay is indefensible.
Shikhar Narwal December 12, 2025 AT 02:33
Just saw a guy in a pickup truck go past me on the N12 today in the rain. No lights. No slowing down. Just… zoom.
I didn’t say anything. But I whispered to my daughter in the back seat: ‘That man doesn’t know how lucky he is.’
And I hope he remembers that tomorrow.
💔
Ravish Sharma December 14, 2025 AT 01:27
Oh wow. Another ‘tragedy’ on the N12. Can we please get a new script? Rain + curve + death = headline. Repeat every 3 weeks. You think the government doesn’t know this happens? They’ve got the data. They’ve got the reports. They just don’t care. Why? Because the people who die? They’re not the ones voting. They’re not the ones with private drivers. They’re the ones taking taxis to work. And no one’s gonna cry over that.
So keep your candles. Keep your hashtags. Keep your ‘slow down’ signs. I’ll be over here, laughing at the irony.
Meanwhile, my BMW has adaptive cruise control. And I’m not even on the N12 today.
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