Traffic officer Timothy Simpson died inside the state-owned vehicle after it caught fire on the N2 near Park Rynie on Tuesday night, 22 September.
Simpson served as a provincial inspector with the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and was based at Park Rynie.
The vehicle became engulfed in flames at about 20:00 while Simpson was on duty.
Investigation launched into deadly vehicle fire
KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed Simpsonโs death on Wednesday.
Duma said the department had assigned an RTI team to work with a specialised South African Police Service (SAPS) team to establish what happened.
Investigators are examining forensic and mechanical evidence from the vehicle to determine what sparked the fire.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause.
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ, ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฅ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป
Duma has expressed his deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of the most disciplined, hardworking, decorated, and awardโฆ pic.twitter.com/iEuyh61Iny— NANCY PALIEN (@Traffic247KZN) September 23, 2026
RTI spokesperson Sindi Msimang said Simpson was alone in the vehicle when the fire broke out.
She said he could not get out before the flames engulfed the vehicle.
โWe hope to get answers soon on how this happened,โ Msimang said, adding that the RTI would await the outcome of the SAPS investigation.
Traffic officer remembered for his service
Duma described Simpson as a disciplined and hardworking officer who served KwaZulu-Natal and the country with distinction.
He said Simpson was also an award-winning traffic officer.
The department sent officials to Simpsonโs family after the incident and senior management was expected to meet his colleagues at the Park Rynie RTI station on Wednesday.
Duma also extended condolences to Simpsonโs wife, family, friends and colleagues.
Police and transport officials are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal fire.
