A car in the Port Elizabeth mayor's motorcade allegedly caused an accident in the city, the Herald Online has reported.

Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi was apparently rushing to the opening of the Ironman triathlon at the beachfront on Sunday morning when the lead car in the motorcade, a Toyota Fortuner, allegedly skipped a red light at high speed.

It hit a Ford Bantam on the side. The Bantam then spun and hit a bakkie belonging to security company ADT.

The accident happened at 6.30am at the intersection of Strandfontein Road and La Roche Drive.

Eyewitness Ken Bartle was quoted as saying that despite the three cars being badly smashed, nobody was hurt. The mayor, in a silver Audi, continued to her engagement.