UPDATE: Bus on fire calls on questions over roadworthiness
The passengers claim the bus was unroadworthy. However, Henry van der Linde, Vulintaba Country Hotel’s general manager says otherwise.
The roadworthiness of a bus transporting passengers on the D96 Vulintaba Road last week is being questioned, after the lives of about 50 bus passengers were placed in danger in what some are calling a freak accident.
Billows of smoke, a raging fire and people frantically jumping out of broken bus windows is the scene that greeted authorities on November 27, when the bus they were travelling in, overturned on the D96 (Vulintaba Road) and burst into flames.
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The passengers are believed to be staff of Vulintaba Country Hotel.
One of the distraught passengers shared the events leading up to the horrific accident.
“The bus failed to climb the steep incline and began to roll backwards. It started to move side-ways. Then it flipped over and started burning,” she recalls.
All the passengers on the bus, including the driver, escaped unharmed.
The passengers claim the bus was unroadworthy. However, Henry van der Linde, Vulintaba Country Hotel’s general manager says otherwise.
“All our buses are sent for roadworthy tests from time-to-time.”
To his knowledge each bus received a roadworthy certificate and this particular bus received its certificate a week before the incident.
Captain Jabulani Ncube, Corporate Communications Officer for Newcastle SAPS, said a case of reckless and negligent driving was opened at the police station.
He said the case was still under police investigation.
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How are police weeding out the unroadworthy vehicles on Newcastle’s roads and what campaigns does it have in place for the festive season and safe driving?
“Police conduct regular stop and search operations. In conjunction with the Department of Transport and traffic police, festive season operations will be held,” confirms Capt Ncube.
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