Twelve people believed to be supporters of a political party were killed in a devastating crash between a truck and a bus on the R34 near Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal. The collision occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday, 17 June.
According to KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements and Transport spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya, a report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) revealed that the accident involved a head-on collision, after which the truck crashed into the side of the bus.
Emergency services confirmed that 12 passengers died at the scene and were transported to the Vryheid mortuary. Ten others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals, while 22 passengers suffered minor injuries. Six people escaped unharmed. Both the truck and bus drivers survived and were also hospitalised.
Sibiya said the road was temporarily closed to allow emergency teams to assist the injured without disruption. Authorities are now working closely with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Service to investigate the cause of the crash.
“We have agreed with the RTI team that we will work with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Service as part of a comprehensive investigation,” Sibiya stated.
It has also been reported that the bus was transporting members of a political party. While the party’s identity has not been officially confirmed, both the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party hosted Youth Day commemorative events on Monday in Umlazi and Claremont, respectively.
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