11 killed in South Africa crash involving minibus taxi and truck — TimesLIVE

Eleven people were killed and another nine sustained serious injuries after a head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a truck on the N2 highway near the town of Mtubatuba in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. The crash occurred at about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday in the Nkodibe area.

Passengers were returning from a music festival

As TimesLIVE reports, the minibus was carrying fans of maskandi music who were returning to Mtubatuba and Big Five Hlabisa after a festival in Melmoth, Mthonjaneni. The event was organized by performer Sgwebo.

After the collision, the minibus caught fire. Nine of the 11 victims could not be identified because of burns. All nine injured people were taken to hospital.

According to available information, the truck was heading to the uMfolozi sugar facility. The circumstances of the collision are still being established.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Authorities’ reaction

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli expressed condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of those killed. He called the tragedy a painful loss for 11 families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Ntuli also thanked emergency services, law enforcement officers and local residents who arrived at the crash scene. He urged drivers to be especially careful in the early hours, when fatigue can affect the ability to drive safely, not to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, and public transport operators to ensure their vehicles are mechanically roadworthy.

Mtubatuba Mayor Mxolisi Mthethwa had been at the crash site since the morning and was assisting with the emergency response. Authorities are working to establish the identities of the victims and provide assistance to their families.