News24 | At least four people hospitalised after bus carrying IFP supporters to rally crashes in KZN

A bus carrying IFP supporters to 50th anniversary celebrations in KZN overturned following a crash. (Supplied)

• Four IFP supporters were rushed to hospital following a bus accident in KZN on Sunday morning.
• The supporters were on their way to the IFP's 50th anniversary celebration rally in Ulundi.
• Reports indicate that the bus driver was speeding and failed to navigate the stop sign at a T-junction. 

Four people have been rushed to hospital after a bus carrying Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters overturned on the R34 route near Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday morning.

The supporters from the Gauteng region were headed to the party's 50th-anniversary celebration rally in Ulundi, when the bus driver allegedly failed to navigate the stop sign at a T-junction.

According to the party's spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, four people were rushed to the hospital at about 06:00, while the other supporters received medical assistance at the scene of the accident.

"The leadership of Gauteng has gone to see our comrades, and the leadership of Abaqulusi constituency are on site to offer the necessary support," said Hlengwa.

He added that while saddened by the accident, they are relieved that no fatalities were reported.

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"We want to reiterate to all the drivers and users of the transport to Ulundi to exercise maximum care and vigilance on the roads to make sure that everyone is safe."

In March last year, three buses transporting IFP supporters collided on the N2 near Gingindlovu, north of Durban, and left multiple people injured.

The buses were packed with IFP supporters who were attending the party's manifesto launch in the city.

Although the IFP indicated that only four people were hospitalised on Sunday morning, KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma reported that a total of 22 people were injured.

"The latest preliminary report, which we received at 09:30, indicates that the bus (belonging to Sun Coaches Bus Company) driver was speeding. We will have no mercy on him," said Duma.

"We want to teach him a lesson for others to learn that Alufakwa KwaZulu-Natal – there is zero tolerance in KwaZulu-Natal."

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, three people were killed on Saturday following an accident on the R61, near the Wild Coast Sun, on the south coast of KZN.

A VW and Toyota Tazz were apparently racing each other, resulting in a head-on collision with a Toyota Yaris. Four other people were also injured.

The route was closed for three hours.