MEDIA STATEMENT

ELEVEN PEOPLE KILLED AT ISIPINGO MAIN ROAD

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Bheki Cele has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of eleven victims that killed in a road accident involving a truck and a minibus taxi yesterday afternoon (01- 06-2006).

The initial report had revealed that the gruesome accident took place at the intersection road of M 35 Isipingo Old Main Road at about 5.30 pm yesterday. It is alleged that the driver of the minibus was carrying 17 passengers on board traveling from Mbumbulu to Isipingo.

Upon impact the minibus taxi burned into flames and about eleven people were burnt beyond recognition. The passenger of the truck managed to kick the rear windscreen of the minibus and pulled out six people. They were taken to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital. Both drivers of the truck and the minibus fled the scene.

"My deepest condolences go to the families of the victims for losing their family members in such a horrible way. It also goes to the people of Isipingo as this is the second horrible accident to happen in a space of five months. Last year on New Year's Eve nine people were killed in an accident involving a minibus," Cele said.

He also asked the members of the families with whom their loved ones are missing to go to Isipingo police station and report them as that could speed up the process of identifying the victims.

Eleven counts of capable homicide are being investigated and the police investigation is still underway.

ENDS

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