News24 | 'I thought I was dead': Passengers recall horror Gauteng bus crash as death toll climbs to 16

• Two passengers involved in the horror bus crash on the R21 in Ekurhuleni, have recalled the moments before it happened.
• The bus, part of the City of Ekurhuleni's fleet, landed on its side.
• Both passengers were grateful to have survived. 

The death toll for the horror bus crash that occurred on the R21 in Gauteng on Tuesday has increased to 16.

Road Traffic Management Authority spokesperson Simon Zwane said four more passengers died in hospital, taking the death toll from 12 to 16. 

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Two passengers involved in the crash recounted the moments before it occurred.

Philasande Phakade, 19, took the bus to work in Kempton Park - a job he started about three weeks ago.

The vehicle, owned by the Ekurhuleni municipality, was ferrying passengers from Katlehong to Kempton Park when it crashed at around 07:50 along the R21 opposite Emperors Palace. 

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Phakade said the driver lost control when he attempted to avoid a white car that changed lanes.

"The bus hit the embankment, and fell to its right side. I thought I was dead. As the bus fell to its side, passengers sitting on the right side were thrown out through the windows. The bus then fell on top of them," he said. 

Phakade jumped out of the vehicle through a window on the left side, accidentally stepping on other passengers along the way.

"I began praying thanking God for saving me. I would have died because I was sitting on the right side behind the driver," Phakade said. 

Hours later, he was still there, looking on as paramedics, emergency personnel, police and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officers battled to remove bodies trapped under the wreckage.

According to Phakade, there were more than 70 passengers aboard the bus and many were standing in the aisle at the time of impact.

But Ekurhuleni member of the mayoral committee for transport, Andile Mgwevu, said his claim was not true.

He said the bus was travelled from Katlehong to Kempton Park daily. 

"This doesn't happen regularly. Our buses are being thoroughly inspected and serviced. Our buses are roadworthy. We encourage our commuters to continue using our buses," he said.

Kgotli Mashile, who was sitting at the back of the bus at the time of the accident, was in disbelief.

"I don't know how we survived. I escaped through the rear window, leaving many passengers - some dead and others wounded - inside the bus. We lost people that we know. Many families aren't aware of what happened."