KwaDukuza Local Municipality Mayor Muzi Ngidi has expressed his shock and sadness following a tragic bus accident on the N2 near Mandeni that claimed the lives of nine individuals. The incident occurred between Mandeni and Stanger, involving an 88-seater bus carrying members of the Twelve Apostles in Trinity Church from Richards Bay to Shaka’s Kraal near KwaDukuza.
The bus is believed to have veered off the road and plunged down a steep embankment after a tyre burst. Ngidi voiced concerns over the frequent occurrence of accidents on this section of the N2, which he said had become a dangerous hotspot.
“The N2 between KwaDukuza and Mandeni has seen many accidents in this area. We need to engage further with the MEC and work on addressing this issue. Something must be done,” Ngidi stated. “We also need God’s intervention. Week after week, or month after month, we continue to witness accidents here. We will reach out to the families of the deceased and provide support.”
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Sboniso Duma, who is visiting the crash site, acknowledged the painful tragedy for the church community, noting that some of the affected individuals were relatives of the mayor. Although no immediate family members of Ngidi were killed, the loss of nine lives has deeply impacted the local community.
“The cause of the crash is under investigation,” said Duma. “While we have been told that a tyre burst may have caused the crash, we are not ruling out other factors such as speeding, driver error, or potential overload. A thorough investigation will determine the exact cause.”
The municipality and authorities are working together to support the affected families and investigate further into the tragic event.