MEDIA STATEMENT

EIGHT PEOPLE DIE IN A HORROR BUS CRASH

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Safety and Security Mr Bheki Cele has expressed his condolences to the families of the eight people who were killed in a horror bus crash in Vryheid northern KwaZulu-Natal last night at 8:45pm.

The accident which left 62 people injured including the driver, occurred on P53 between Vryheid and Dundee. The bus which belongs to Darnall Transport based in Stanger was transporting passengers who attended a wedding in Newcastle and returning to Mandeni.

Speaking from the scene, Cele vowed that the department would launch a full investigation into the accident. "We will do everything possible to ensure that those who are responsible for this crash are dealt with harshly," Cele said.

The bus driver told the department of transport officials who went to the scene that as a result of heavy rains yesterday there were water patches on the road and when hitting one of the water patches he lost control of the bus and it overturned.

Of the 62 people injured, 47including the driver were treated in Vryheid hospital and discharged, while 11were admitted in Vryheid and four in Dundee Hospital.

Of the four admitted in Dundee Hospital two are in a critical condition.

The bus has been impounded and will be examined by technical experts tomorrow.

The SAPS has opened a docket for eight culpable homicide.

Today, Cele will visit the families of the deceased and those who sustained injuries in hospitals.

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