Police said that out of the 16 fatalities, three were children.
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A bus accident has claimed the lives of at least 16 people on the N1 near Touws River, at the Gulfstream Garage in the Western Cape.
The Minister of Transport, Barbra Creecy and Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa have expressed their condolences to the families in mourning.
15 lives lost
According to the South African Police Service (Saps), emergency team members responded to the fatal bus crash at around 00:45 on Thursday morning.
Based on the preliminary information provided, the bus was transporting 78 passengers from Cape Town to the Eastern Cape when it overturned, claiming the lives of 16 passengers, who were declared deceased on the scene.
Among them were seven adult males, five adult females and three children.
43 reject medical treatment
Twenty other passengers sustained injuries of varying severity and were transported to Worcester medical facilities to receive treatment.
Meanwhile, reports claim that 43 occupants refused medical treatment.
Creecy and Hlengwa wished a swift recovery to all those who sustained injuries and have reportedly directed to the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to assist the bereaved families, along with those injured, with the necessary support.
Creecy and Hlengwa have also instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to investigate the cause of the crash, collaboratively working with local authorities.
Saps noted that the circumstances are under investigation.
The preliminary investigation report is expected in 48 hours after the RTMC started investigations.
This is a developing story
