MEDIA STATEMENT

KWAZULU-NATAL MEC FOR TRANSPORT, MR S'BU NDEBELE, EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES AND SHOCK AT DEATHS OF 17 KILLED IN ONE COLLISION

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S'Bu Ndebele, expressed shock and outrage at the unnecessary loss of lives after seventeen people were killed in a single collision in the province today. At 09:45 this morning a heavy motor vehicle travelling from Kokstad to Harding is alleged to have overtaken a Toyota Venture across a single barrier line and collided head-on into a minibus taxi which was on its way from Durban to Kokstad. The collision occurred in the vicinity of Ngeli.

The driver of the minibus taxi including his sixteen passengers were all killed instantly. The driver of the heavy motor vehicle, who survived the collision, has since been arrested and faces seventeen counts of culpable homicide.

MEC Ndebele has instructed that the heavy motor vehicle will immediately be impounded and must undergo a stringent roadworthy and fitness test which will be conducted by a qualified examiner of vehicles from the road traffic inspectorate and an independent accident expert will also be appointed to reconstruct this collision to assist the SAPS with their investigations.

MEC Ndebele has expressed his condolences to the families and relatives of those killed.

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