On February 1 the bus was making a trip from Extension 10 in Kwa-Guqa to eMalahleni.
“I heard a loud bang, I immediately pulled over,” said Mr Lucas Mtamabana, the driver of the bus. Mtamabana then inspected the bus unsure of where the bang had originated from, the engine then caught fire.
Mtamabana quickly evacuated the two passengers that were with him on the bus.
He used a fire extinguisher in attempts to quell the fire but the fire was overwhelming and engulfed the entire bus in flames.
A white Volkswagen Explora bus caught fire while travelling along the N4 Highway towards eMalahleni.
Emalahleni Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene and two fire fighters, each with a hose in their grips fought the fire from opposite ends of the bus. The fire fighters were able to extinguish the flames before it spread to the nearby housing of Schoongezicht, the bus however was burnt beyond recovery.
A fire fighter from Emalahleni Fire and Rescue takes to the knee to quell the fire from below the driver’s cab.
Paramedics from Langamed Emergency Management Services tended to the driver of the bus and his tow passengers, the three occupants were unscathed in the incident and did not need medical treatment.
It is reported that the bus is valued at an estimated R1.4-million, the manager of the bus was unavailable for comment regarding the incident and as to why the bus caught flame in the first place.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established but is under investigation, a case of malicious damage to property has been opened at the Vosman Police.
