It’s a week later and the memory of one of the deadliest crashes the region has seen in recent memory is still vivid. 10 people tragically lost their lives when a bus and a truck collided shortly after midnight on Monday night, June 16, on the R34 near Matatane Camp (Babanango Game Reserve). Emergency services rushed to the scene in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The passenger bus, carrying EFF supporters, was en-route to Vryheid from a Youth Day rally in Umlazi. Reports indicate that the bus and truck collided head-on; the impact caused the truck to then strike the side of the bus, resulting in the high number of fatalities. The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport & Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and assured the public of a full investigation involving RTI, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the SAPS. “I have personally conveyed our sympathies to Marshall Dlamini, the secretary general of the EFF. I also inspected the scene of the accident and witnessed the trail of destruction left behind. Innocent lives have been lost, and the lives of many families have been altered and turned upside down.” Initial reports indicated that 12 people had died, but it was later determined that reduced visibility contributed to emergency personnel and RTI miscalculating the dismembered body parts at the scene. Aside from the fatalities, 38 people were injured (including both drivers) and rushed to hospital.

In the wake of large-scale tragedies like this one, where rescue teams spend hours extracting injured and dead people from the wreckage, it is important to remember that emergency personnel are human too. They face not only the physical demands of the scene, but the emotional weight of trauma as well. The area manager of KwaZulu Private Ambulance Services, Frikkie Bekker, said the crash scene was one of the most harrowing he has seen in a while. “We deal with many accidents – some extremely gruesome – but this one will stay with me for a very long time. It’s the kind of tragedy that etches itself into your memory,” he said.
In a statement from the EFF, the party expressed their condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. “These fighters lost their lives following a show of support for the revolution they belonged to, and they must be remembered as heroes to whom we owe a great debt.” The party also indicated that they will assist in identifying and contacting the family members of the deceased.
A voice note from a truck driver who uses this road regularly said there are no potholes where the crash occurred. However, he did mention that truck drivers (himself included) drive too fast down the descent. He admitted that they, as truck drivers, speed down the hill.

The SAPS and RTMC will conduct a comprehensive investigation to establish the cause of the accident.
MEC Duma said ‘there are allegations that the bus driver tried to overtake, while other survivors have alleged that the bus driver fell asleep at the wheel.’ “We do not want to speculate at this stage though. We are confident that the investigation will shed light. We have in the past expressed our concerns about accidents involving trucks. Trucks are not supposed to be on this road in the first place and should be using the N2. Many innocent lives have been lost as a result of a huge number of trucks on our roads. We have been informed by Transnet that in the 2024 financial year, over 303,000 trucks used the Richards Bay port, averaging nearly 6000 a week. It has been stated that the port’s infrastructure was originally designed for a much smaller volume of trucks, approximately 200 per day. We continue to receive briefings from the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, about efforts to resuscitate the rail network. Working with the national government, we are doubling our efforts to ensure that we strengthen plans to move cargo from road to rail.”

Tears flowed on Sunday as the victims of the tragic crash were laid to rest. Families, friends, and community members gathered in solemn remembrance, paying their final respects to those who lost their lives.

ALSO READ: 12 killed in devastating bus and truck crash on R34

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.