Emergency teams have completed their search of the wreckage following Thursday morning’s deadly collision in Isipingo, south of Durban, which claimed 11 lives.
The crash involved a minibus taxi and a truck on the old R102 near Lotus Park. Officials said the taxi veered off the road and was pinned against a tree. By midday, authorities had begun carefully removing the victims’ bodies, placing them on the side of the wreckage as they awaited the arrival of the forensics team.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma visited the scene, where he was shown the severely damaged taxi. Duma told media that a preliminary investigation indicated the truck swerved and collided with the taxi, forcing it against a tree. He also noted that the truck’s tyres were worn, and the driver is now in police custody at a local station.
Authorities said the taxi was overloaded, carrying more than 15 passengers at the time of the crash.
Motorists have been urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes while investigations and recovery operations continue.