Five passengers lost their lives on the R33 between Mkhondo and Amsterdam on the afternoon of Monday, December 1.
Preliminary reports indicate that the driver of the bus lost control leading to the bus overturning. Six passengers were seriously injured while 20 other occupants escaped with slight injuries including the driver who were transported to a nearby hospital in Mkhondo.
The crash is still under investigation. It is however suspected that prevailing wet conditions may have played a hand in the crash.
Spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi said the bus passenger list had 65 names when it left Johannesburg.
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“Other passengers went off at various stops along the way hence there were only 31 occupants including the driver at the time of the crash. The bus was not carrying over 80 passengers as it was earlier reported,” he said.
MEC, Jackie Macie appealed to drivers to adjust their driving in line with the prevailing conditions on the road and this include the wet weather.
