Three people were killed and 11 seriously injured when a minibus taxi reportedly crashed into the back of an articulated truck before overturning on the R40 at Jim Brown near Marite on Thursday morning, August 10.
According to the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison’s (DCSSL) spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, the three deceased and 11 injured were passengers on the minibus.
He said two of the passengers, who were women, died on the scene, while a man was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died.
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He said the accident occurred at about 06:30, and that an investigation is under way to establish the exact cause of the crash.
The DCSSL’s MEC, Vusi Shongwe, sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
He also called on all public transport drivers to be patient on the road to avoid unnecessary crashes, and that impatience in drivers, especially those in public transport, puts many lives at risks.
“We understand commuters are always in a hurry to get to their workplaces in the morning, and drivers are under pressure to get more loads, but passengers should never be treated like goods. Public transport drivers must always be mindful of the lives they are transporting,” said Shongwe.
