Twelve people have died and ten others were seriously injured in a collision between a bus and a truck on the R34 near Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, just after midnight on Monday.
According to preliminary reports, a truck collided with the bus under circumstances that remain unclear. The bus was transporting supporters of a political party who had travelled to Durban for Youth Day celebrations.
The injured passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department spokesperson, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, confirmed that MEC Sipho Hlomuka will engage with the leadership of the political party involved and continue to provide updates as investigations progress. The MEC has extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasised the importance of ensuring that all affected families are properly informed.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.