At least nine people are dead and 10 are in critical condition after a bus crash in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Nine ANC supporters were killed and 10 others were left in critical condition after the bus they were riding on overturned.
- The supporters announced the ANC election manifesto in Durban and were on their way back to Mpumalanga.
- A bus loses control and overturns on Route R33. 5 km from Paul Pietersburg.
Nine ANC supporters were killed and 10 others were left in critical condition after the bus they were traveling in crashed near Dambe in Paulpietersburg in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday morning.
Police and various emergency services are currently at the scene of the overturning of a bus carrying ANC supporters.
They were on their way back to Mpumalanga after presenting the ANC election manifesto at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said nine people were killed and 10 were in critical condition.
“As the host province, we are in constant contact with Luthuli House and the ANC Mpumalanga province,” Mutolo said.
“We know that thousands of words of sympathy are not enough to heal the broken hearts of the families and loved ones of our fallen comrades.”
He added that the KwaZulu-Natal ANC leadership will join the national and Mpumalanga PEC during a family visit.
“Words of comfort from the people of KwaZulu-Natal.”
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said the bus lost control and overturned.
There were about 70 people on the bus.
“The exact cause of the bus accident is currently under investigation. Updated information will be provided as soon as it becomes available,” Zwane added.
Sipho Hlomka, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, expressed his deepest condolences to the ANC and all affected families.
“We are now waking up to such distressing news after the rally in Moses Mabhida was a huge success. However, we have already sent a team to the scene and have already contacted all law enforcement agencies. We are cooperating.”
Read | Five ANC members killed in bus accident on their way to Mbombela Stadium in Limpopo
Fromka said an investigation has already begun to determine the cause of the accident.
“We have already contacted the owner of the bus. We are currently investigating the road conditions at the time of the accident, the condition of the bus, the weather, and the condition of the driver.”
This is the second such incident after this year's ANC event. Last month, five ANC members were killed when their bus collided with another bus on the R71 in Magoebaskloof, on the outskirts of Tzaneen in Limpopo province, pushing them into a ditch.
The bus was on its way to Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, where the ANC's 112th anniversary celebrations and January 8 statement event were being held.
