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7 months ago
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At least nine people died and 10 others are in critical condition after a bus crashed in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Nine ANC supporters have died, and 10 are in a critical condition after a bus they were travelling in overturned.
- The supporters were traveling home to Mpumalanga from the launch of the ANC Election Manifesto in Durban.
- The bus overturned on the R33 route, 5km from Paulpietersburg.
Nine ANC supporters have died, while 10 others are in a critical condition after a bus they were travelling in crashed near Dumbe, Paulpietersburg in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday morning.
Police and various emergency services are currently at the scene where the bus transporting ANC supporters overturned.
They were travelling home to Mpumalanga from the launch of the ANC Election Manifesto at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium.
According to ANC Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo, nine people died and 10 are in a critical condition.
"As the host province we are in constant liaison with Luthuli House and ANC Mpumalanga Province," Mtolo said.
"We know thousands of words of sympathy are not enough to mend the broken hearts of families and the loved ones of the departed comrades."
He added that the ANC leadership from KwaZulu-Natal will join the national and Mpumalanga PEC during visits to the families.
"We will offer words of comfort from the people of KwaZulu-Natal."
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said that the bus overturned after loss of control.
The bus had been carrying approximately 70 people.
"The precise cause of the bus crash is subject to an ongoing investigation. Updated information will be provided when it becomes available," added Zwane.
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Sipho Hlomuka expressed his deepest condolences to the ANC and all affected families.
"After such a hugely successful rally in Moses Mabhida, we are now waking up to such painful news. We have however already deployed a team on the scene which is already at work with all law enforcement agencies."
READ | 5 ANC members killed in bus crash in Limpopo while en route to Mbombela Stadium
Hlomuka said that the investigation to determine the cause of the accident had already started.
"We are already in touch with the bus owner. Our investigation is looking at the condition of the road, condition of the bus, and the weather during the time of the accident, and the condition of the driver."
This is the second accident following an ANC event this year. Last month, five ANC members were killed when the bus they were travelling in was hit by another bus, pushing it into a ditch on the R71 route in Magoebaskloof, outside Tzaneen, Limpopo.
The bus was en route to Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, where the ANC's 112th anniversary celebrations and 8 January statement events were taking place.
