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CEO visits bus accident victims
KwaZulu Natal Transport Department head, Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, together with some
members of parliament visited various hospitals to see victims of the bus
inferno which claimed the lives of nine people at the week-end.
The affected people were from a Zulu cultural function in KwaNyuswa near
Bothas Hill when the driver, who was allegedly drunk, lost control of the bus as
it was approaching a corner and it overturned. About nine people were killed and
37 seriously injured, but their condition is stable.
Badly bruised Mr Ayo Mkhize (19) who was admitted to R. K. Khan Hospital in
Chatsworth, cried as he recalled what happened: "We tried to complain to
the driver that he was speeding but he didn’t listen because he was very
drunk. He was literally playing with the bus, revving it hard and before we knew
it, the bus overturned. And some were dead and others were air-lifted to
different hospitals and the driver ran away."
Commenting on what happened, Dr Mbanjwa said: "As the Department of
Transport, we are very distraught by this accident which killed so many people
and left others badly injured. The driver of the bus was arrested and charged
with nine capable homicide, drinking and driving and reckless driving."
Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa who addressed the bereaved families, reiterated his call to
the general public to use the Mpimpa hotline if they suspect something wrong
with transportation to prevent similar accidents from happening in future.
KZN Parliament’s Mr Omi Singh, who chairs the transport portfolio
committee, told the affected families that they would be compensated for what
happened and that funeral costs would be covered by the Transport department.
The names of the deceased were released by Inspector J.C. Zulu Hillcrest
police station.
- David Mkhize
- Bernard Mkhize
- Lucas Mkhize
- Mathanzima Khoza
- Mzwandile Khoza
- Mboneni Majozi
- Thola Majozi
- Bhekani Ntombela
- Themba Ngubane
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