The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and local authorities are investigating the cause of a crash between a freight truck and a minibus taxi that claimed 11 lives in Isipingo, south of Durban, on Thursday.
KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, attended the scene of the crash in Wanda Cele Drive in Lotus Park, Isipingo.
“According to a preliminary report from our dedicated team from Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), unfortunately 11 people, including a learner, have died in this horrific accident. Six other people were seriously injured and have been taken to the nearest hospital,” said Duma.
“Witnesses have alleged that the truck driver made a u-turn, resulting in a head-on collision. It is for these reasons I have mandated the RTI team to work with Durban Metro Police and SAPS as part of an investigation. We want to establish the cause of this accident.”
Duma said the accident came after the province recorded a historic 18% decrease in fatalities during the festive season.
Creecy and her deputy minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa raised their concerns over the persistent rise in the number of road fatalities due to road crashes involving public transport modes.
The minister and her deputy said they had directed the RTMC to investigate the cause of the crash, working together with local authorities.
“The precise cause of the crash remains the subject of ongoing investigation. The preliminary investigation report is expected in 48 hours once the RTMC begins its investigation,” they said.
