Source image: Department of Transport KZN
(The Post News)- In the early hours of Tuesday, a fatal accident between a truck and a bus claimed about 12 lives on the R34 near Vryheid in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. At least 10 persons were injured as a result of the accident. The bus involved in the accident had been transporting supporters of a political party who were coming from the June 16 Youth Day rally in DurbanAccording to the MEC for transport and human settlements, Siboniso Duma, the bus was struck on the side by the truck, causing catastrophic damage. Only 10 people died at the scenery, while 2 more people died later at the hospital after succumbing to their injuries.
According to reports, 10 more people sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment, while an additional 22 people only sustained minor injuries. The drivers of both vehicles have survived and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.Transport department spokesperson in KZN, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, said that the bodies of the deceased were initially going to be taken to Vryheid mortuary, but that has since changed. The spokesperson also mentioned that the MEC of Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, has extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. The road safety campaign will be intensified now that we are in the winter holidays and many people are expected to be travelling on the road, visiting tourist destinations and family.
Sibiya said, “The road traffic management cooperation, working with the SAPS, will be taking over and leading the investigation as per the MEC’s indication in the statements that he issued at 2 o’clock this morning…The MEC will be announcing how we move forward.”
In a statement Duma made, he detailed that the death toll could change with the authorities’ involvement and that dismembered body parts of some of the victims are still missing. Following the incident, the road at the scene was closed to allow emergency services to provide care for those injured.
SAPS says a protocol will be followed where the MEC, Siboniso Duma, will be interacting with the leaders of the political party that has lost supporters in the accident.
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