SA: Two children among 5 people killed in head-on collision with Zimbabwe-bound bus carrying 60 passengers

By News24

SOUTH AFRICA: Two children and three adults died in a head-on collision between a hatchback vehicle and a bus carrying 60 Zimbabwean nationals on the N6 between East London and Stutterheim on Sunday night.

It is believed the bus, which was travelling towards Stutterheim, had just left East London for Zimbabwe when the incident happened.

According to the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, the deceased had been travelling in a VW Polo Vivo.

“The VW Polo, which had five occupants, became trapped underneath the bus. Jaws of life were used to extricate the deceased,” said Makhaya Komisa, the spokesperson for Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha.

Komisa said the bus passengers sustained various injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

“The main cause of the crash will be subjected to further investigation by various law enforcement agencies. A case of culpable homicide and reckless driving has been opened at Stutterheim police station,” Komisa added.

The occupants of the VW Polo were two women, two children, and a man. Komisa was unable to confirm their ages, and it was not clear if the deceased were members of the same family.

Last month, five people who were travelling from Gauteng to Limpopo died near Makhado after their bus driver lost control of the vehicle. The passengers were to catch another bus in Limpopo and proceed to Zimbabwe when the accident happened.

In October last year, 42 passengers from Zimbabwe and Malawi died on the N1 in Limpopo after the bus they were travelling in veered off the road along a steep mountain pass before plunging down an embankment.

The victims were travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape when the accident occurred.