Bus accident in Ekurhuleni.
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in a bus accident near OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday.
In a statement, the President also wished survivors of the incident a speedy and full recovery.
It is believed that the municipal bus was involved in a crash with a light motor vehicle. Twelve people died on the crash scene while four more died in hospital. Those injured have been rushed to various hospitals across the City of Ekurhuleni for medical attention.
This deadly crash is the latest in a series of fatal road accidents across the country. Last week, 10 people died when a bus and a truck collided on the N6 in the Free State. From that crash, four victims remain unidentified.
Over the weekend in KwaZulu-Natal at least nine people died when a bus reportedly had a tyre burst and veered off the road on the N2 North, near Mandeni. In another incident on Monday, four pupils traveling in private scholar transport lost their lives in a crash on the N12 in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni.
Ramaphosa has noted this spate of accidents and urged motorists to drive with caution.
“When we ask how safe our roads are, we actually need to ask how safe we are as drivers and pedestrians. The biggest factor in crashes is human error, not law enforcement or road conditions. Drivers must ensure vehicles are roadworthy and must obey the rules of the road. They are there to keep us safe.”
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa also extended their sympathies and urged motorists and road users to ensure safety on the roads.