“A trail of destruction… innocent lives lost, and the lives of many families have been turned upside down.”

These were the words of the KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, following a horrific crash near Vryheid in KZN.

The Witness reports that after a forensic review of dismembered remains, it was confirmed that 10 people died in the collision.

Duma confirmed the death toll after visiting the crash site, hospitals and mortuaries. He said poor visibility in the early hours of the morning contributed to confusion and an initial miscount of casualties at the scene.

The devastating accident, involving a bus and a truck, occurred on the R34 near Vryheid in the early hours this morning.

The EFF confirmed that the victims were members returning from the party’s June 16 Youth Day rally in Umlazi. The party said it is working closely with authorities to identify the deceased and support affected families.

According to the Department of Transport, the 10 deceased include seven males and three females.

“Thirty-three passengers sustained minor injuries and were able to walk, three were injured but not critically, and two are in critical condition. The bodies of the deceased have been moved to the Dundee Mortuary. Both the bus and truck drivers survived and are receiving medical attention in hospital,” says Duma.

The Road Traffic Inspectorate and the SAPS is conducting a thorough investigation into the crash.

“Conflicting survivor accounts have surfaced, with some alleging the bus driver attempted to overtake, while others claim he may have fallen asleep behind the wheel. We do not want to speculate at this stage. We are confident the investigation will provide clarity,” Duma adds.

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