VRYHEID, KwaZulu-Natal – A tragic collision on the R34 near Vryheid has claimed the lives of twelve people. The incident, involving a bus and a truck, occurred just after midnight on Tuesday, leaving ten others seriously injured and twenty-two with minor injuries.
The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, confirmed the devastating news, stating that his department received a report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) shortly after the incident.
According to initial reports, the truck collided with the bus, but the exact cause of the accident remains unclear. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The victims are believed to have been passengers on the bus, which was reportedly transporting supporters of a political party who were returning from Youth Day celebrations held in Durban on Monday. Three political parties held Youth Day rallies in Durban on Monday.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department spokesperson Nadabezinhle Sibiya said that the MEC would be interacting with the leader of the political party, and would update the people of KwaZulu-Natal and indicate how the department would move forward. He also conveyed the MEC's condolences to the families of the victims, and stressed the importance of ensuring that all the families of the victims are properly informed.
MEC Duma also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.
Duma said that they received a report just after midnight from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) informing them about a horrific head-on collision involving a truck and a bus.
He added that they were establishing facts around reports that the bus was transporting supporters of a political party and that based on the report from the RTI, after the head-on collision, the truck struck the side of the bus.
The MEC said that sadly, the sideswipe resulted in the deaths of 12 passengers, who were taken to Vryheid Mortuary.
He said that ten passengers were seriously injured and taken to various local hospitals, twenty-two passengers were slightly injured, and six passengers were not injured. He also confirmed that the truck and bus drivers survived and have been taken to hospitals.
The road was closed to enable emergency services to provide quality care to the surviving passengers. Motorists along the R34 Vryheid were requested to be patient.
Duma said that they agreed with the RTI team that they would work with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Service as part of a comprehensive investigation.
The provincial Department of Transport and Human Settlements said that the tragic crash occurred on the R34 highway in Vryheid.
The MEC said that just after midnight, they received a report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate informing them about a horrific head-on collision involving a truck and a bus, and that based on the report from the RTI, after the head-on collision, the truck struck the side of the bus.
The roadway has been closed to traffic for emergency staff and necessary teams to conduct their investigations.
Duma said that they agreed with the RTI team that they would work with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Service as part of a comprehensive investigation.
Duma said it appeared the truck struck the side of the bus.
Ten people were killed at the scene, and 10 passengers were seriously injured and taken to various hospitals. Another two people died later.
Duma added that 22 other passengers were slightly injured, and six were unharmed.
He said that the road had been closed to enable emergency services to provide quality care to the surviving passengers, and that they had agreed with the RTI team that they would work with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Service as part of a comprehensive investigation.
The incident has prompted a thorough investigation by the authorities, who are working to determine the exact cause of the collision. The Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Service are assisting the RTI in the investigation.
In March, four IFP supporters were rushed to hospital after a bus accident on the same road. The supporters were on their way to the IFP’s 50th anniversary celebration rally in Ulundi.
Reports indicated that in that accident, the bus driver was allegedly speeding and failed to navigate a stop sign at a T-junction, causing it to overturn.
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