By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Nine ANC supporters have died and 10 others are in a critical condition when a bus they were travelling in crashed near Dumbe, Paulpietersburg, in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday morning.Â
The victims were travelling home to Mpumalanga from the launch of the ANC’s election manifesto at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.
According to provincial ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo, nine people died and 10 are in a critical condition.
“As the host province, we are in constant liaison with Luthuli House and [the] ANC [ in] Mpumalanga province,” Mtolo said.
“We know thousands of words of sympathy are not enough to mend the broken hearts of families and the loved ones of the departed comrades.”
He added that the ANC leadership in KwaZulu-Natal would join the national and provincial elective committee (PEC) during visits to the families.
“We will offer words of comfort from the people of KwaZulu-Natal.”
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said that the bus overturned after the driver lost control of it with over 70 people aboard.
“The precise cause of the bus crash is subject to an ongoing investigation. Updated information will be provided when it becomes available,” Zwane said.
Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka conveyed condolences to the ANC and affected families.
“After such a hugely successful rally in Moses Mabhida [Stadium], we are now waking up to such painful news. We have, however, already deployed a team on the scene which is already at work with all law enforcement agencies.”
Hlomuka said that the investigation to determine the cause of the accident had already started.
“We are already in touch with the bus owner. Our investigation is looking at the condition of the road, condition of the bus, and the weather during the time of the accident, and the condition of the driver.”
The incident was the second accident this year that occurred after an ANC event.
Last month, five ANC members were killed when the bus they were travelling in was hit by another bus, pushing it into a ditch on the R71 route in Magoebaskloof, outside Tzaneen, Limpopo.
The bus was en route to Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, where the ANC’s 112th anniversary celebrations and 8 January statement events were taking place.
