A bus collision in
South Africalate Monday killed 29 people and
severely injured 11 others, on a road notorious
for deadly accidents, a government spokesman
said. “The number is now 29,” said Mpumalanga
province safety department spokesman
Joseph Mabuza, updating an earlier tally of 26
dead. The bus collided with a truck near the town
Kwaggafontein 100 kilometres (60 miles) east
of the capital Pretoria. Three of the injured had died in hospital, while
eight others were still critical and another 12
slightly hurt. The bus was traveling from Pretoria when it
collided with a truck which had swerved out of
its lane, said Mabuza. “The truck driver was trying to avoid a
stationary vehicle and collided with the
oncoming bus,” he told AFP. “We are not sure if the truck driver and the bus
driver survived the accident,” he added. The injured were taken to hospital in nearby
KwaMhlangu. The bus company’s name was not immediately
available. Known as the Moloto road for one of the towns
along its way, the route is notorious for deadly
collisions. Around 50,000 people commute to work in
Pretoria daily along the narrow and potholed
route, using 635 buses. Transport vehicles using the road are often
overloaded and unroadworthy while drivers are
prone to speeding. Last month 18 people were injured in a collision
on the route, while news reports about deadly
accidents are frequent. Last year religious leaders held a prayer service
for the safety of the road. A radio station also
dedicated a day to profile its dangers during
which a provincial minister committed to
improve conditions. In September 27 people died when a heavy-
duty truck crashed into traffic near eastern city
Durban, while 24 were killed when a double-
decker bus crashed into a mountainous pass
near Cape Town in March.
South Africalate Monday killed 29 people and
severely injured 11 others, on a road notorious
for deadly accidents, a government spokesman
said. “The number is now 29,” said Mpumalanga
province safety department spokesman
Joseph Mabuza, updating an earlier tally of 26
dead. The bus collided with a truck near the town
Kwaggafontein 100 kilometres (60 miles) east
of the capital Pretoria. Three of the injured had died in hospital, while
eight others were still critical and another 12
slightly hurt. The bus was traveling from Pretoria when it
collided with a truck which had swerved out of
its lane, said Mabuza. “The truck driver was trying to avoid a
stationary vehicle and collided with the
oncoming bus,” he told AFP. “We are not sure if the truck driver and the bus
driver survived the accident,” he added. The injured were taken to hospital in nearby
KwaMhlangu. The bus company’s name was not immediately
available. Known as the Moloto road for one of the towns
along its way, the route is notorious for deadly
collisions. Around 50,000 people commute to work in
Pretoria daily along the narrow and potholed
route, using 635 buses. Transport vehicles using the road are often
overloaded and unroadworthy while drivers are
prone to speeding. Last month 18 people were injured in a collision
on the route, while news reports about deadly
accidents are frequent. Last year religious leaders held a prayer service
for the safety of the road. A radio station also
dedicated a day to profile its dangers during
which a provincial minister committed to
improve conditions. In September 27 people died when a heavy-
duty truck crashed into traffic near eastern city
Durban, while 24 were killed when a double-
decker bus crashed into a mountainous pass
near Cape Town in March.
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