At least 21 people have died and several others have been seriously injured after a severe head-on collision involving two minibus taxis and a third vehicle on South Africa's N1 highway in the Western Cape Province. The crash occurred on Sunday night near the towns of Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka, approximately 380 kilometers (236 miles) east of Cape Town. The Road Traffic Management Corporation reported that the death toll could still change as emergency services continue to assess the situation. Three of the victims were taken to the hospital but were pronounced dead upon arrival, according to police. The Western Cape Mobility department said the crash likely began when the two minibus taxis collided head-on, after which an SUV crashed into them. The N1 highway was closed at the accident site while an official investigation was launched. Minibus taxis are a common form of public transportation in South Africa, especially in rural areas, and are frequently involved in serious accidents due to factors like overcrowding and unsafe driving conditions. This incident follows a series of tragic crashes in the region. In January, two separate minibus taxi accidents resulted in at least 25 deaths, including 14 children. Earlier this month, a bus carrying many teenagers plunged into a ravine on the island of Fogo in Cape Verde, killing at least 25 people. The accident happened on September 5 along the mountainous Campanas de Cima route, where the vehicle left the road and fell about 30 meters down a steep slope. In response to the Fogo tragedy, Cape Verde’s government declared two days of mourning. President José Maria Pereira Neves called the event "a great catastrophe." A mass funeral for the victims was held on Sunday at Sao Lourenco Church in Sao Lourenco. Local media reported that many of the passengers were students from primary and secondary schools. Family members and local residents carried the coffins, with 18 of them displayed together inside the church during the service.