The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has urged the provincial Department of Transport to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the tragic bus crash near Vryheid. Image: Supplied.
(The Post News)- The families who lost loved ones in a crash involving a bus and a truck near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal have finally identified the bodies of the victims. The families wait in agony as they await the release of the victims’ bodies. Among those who lost their lives was a 17-year-old girl, Amahle Mthethwa.
On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the R34 route witnessed a fatal collision between a truck and a bus near Vryheid. The accident claimed about 12 lives of individuals who were reportedly supporters of a political party, returning from the June 16 Youth Day rally in Durban.
Earlier, 10 people sustained major injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment, while about 22 individuals had minor injuries. Among the 12 fatalities, 10 died at the scene, and 2 victims died later in the hospital.
A family member of one of the deceased spoke out about the difficulties this tragic incident has brought upon them. “It’s very hard for me and the rest of the family because when I received news about the accident, I was in Mpumalanga, and it was hard to believe… this wasn’t the first time the kids had gone on a trip like this,” said Petros Mthethwa, the uncle of Amahle Mthethwa.
The EFF party’s national and provincial leaders visited the homes of the grieving families, promising assistance with funeral arrangements. “We will ensure that all funeral preparations and the sendoff will be dignified, and the EFF will be here permanently until everything is completed. The families are not alone… it’s the little that we can do.”
Among those admitted to the hospital, about 39 people were discharged, while 6 others remain under care. The families still await the conclusion of investigations by the South African Police Service to determine the cause of the collision.
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