Emergency services responded to a serious head-on collision on the R69 Hlobane Road near Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where dozens of passengers including schoolchildren are recovering in hospital.
The crash occurred on Thursday morning between two minibus taxis, one of which was transporting learners to school while the other was occupied by the driver only. The impact left debris scattered across both lanes and brought traffic to a complete standstill.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance spokesperson Craig Botha said paramedics arrived to a “scene of carnage,” with extensive damage and multiple casualties requiring urgent triage.
“Debris from the collision was scattered across both lanes, and the mangled wreckage of the vehicles required immediate and complex intervention,” Botha said.
He confirmed that 24 people were injured in total. Two patients sustained life-threatening head and chest injuries, including a seven-year-old girl who required advanced life support treatment.
The second critically injured patient, a man in his 40s, had to be freed from the wreckage using hydraulic rescue equipment operated by fire services.
Botha said three additional passengers sustained serious injuries, including fractures and suspected spinal trauma, while 19 others mostly schoolchildren suffered minor injuries.
“All patients were stabilised on scene before being transported to various hospitals for further treatment,” he said.
The South African Police Service, fire and traffic authorities were deployed to manage the scene, control crowds, and divert traffic. The road remained closed for around 90 minutes while rescue operations and investigations were carried out.
Authorities say the cause of the collision is under investigation.