KZN Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka’s plea to a truck driver to hand himself over to the police, did not fall on deaf ears.

The driver was sought after a horror crash on the N2 20km northwest of Pongola on Friday afternoon. Two adults and 19 school children were killed in the collision that occurred just after 14:00.

Dashcam footage obtained by eNCA shows the truck attempting to overtake another truck, before it collides into the bakkie.

The death toll in the horror crash on the N2 highway in northern KwaZulu-Natal has risen to 21. 19 of the deceased are children, aged between 5 and 12 years. The accident happened near Pongola in the eMakhalathini area. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/DdTzZiDR7p

— eNCA (@eNCA) September 16, 2022

Police opened a case of culpable homicide and launched a manhunt for the driver who reportedly fled the scene of the accident.

Reports indicate he was part of a protest on the N2.

Protest action between Itselijuba and Pongola at 2 different places on the N2. Avoid the area.
*Road Angels Traffic Info*@rsa_trucker @FatalMoves @MARIUSBROODRYK @NancyPalien1 @ecrtraffic @cpsadrian @marlize_harmse @currentupdate3 pic.twitter.com/2SV6W2ks2r

— Road Angels Traffic Info (@Road_angelsSA) September 16, 2022

Meanwhile, SA Trucker reports they received an audio clip in which the truck driver alleges he fled from traffic officials when he crashed into the bakkie.

Hlomuka urged the driver to turn himself in, to which the driver complied.

The man is expected to appear in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the MEC said he would attend proceedings.

“His arrest is important in assisting the families to deal with the devastation of losing their relatives. We commend the police who had to activate all systems to make sure the driver was pressured to surrender himself. We will be there to support the people of Pongola and the families during his court appearance on Monday,” said Hlomuka.