JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed in a collision involving a car and a minibus taxi on Friday night along the N3 highway in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Province, a provincial government official said on Saturday.

Siboniso Duma, a member of the Executive Council for Transport and Human Settlements in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, said in a statement issued on Saturday morning that nine people were injured.

"We are saddened by the death of five people in this accident caused by a Polo driver, just after the Marrianhill Toll Gate. The minibus taxi veered off the road and plunged 50 meters down the embankment. The recovery of bodies has been completed. We lost four women and one male. Of the four women, one was a member of the South African Police Service in full uniform," said Duma.

He said the deceased were taken to the mortuary while the injured were taken to the hospital. Duma wished the injured a speedy recovery and sent condolence messages to the bereaved families. ■