Breaking: Baby survives, 10 die as minibus crashes in Mpumalanga on the way to Mozambique

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Breaking: Baby survives, 10 die as minibus crashes in Mpumalanga on the way to Mozambique

5:01 CAT | 09 Nov 2016

A 6-month-old baby is among the survivors of a minibus accident that claimed 10 lives near Barberton on Wednesday morning, the Mpumalanga community safety department said.

The minibus taxi was carrying 19 passengers to Mozambique when it overturned on the road to Bulembu in the early hours of the morning, spokesperson Joseph Mabuza said.

The driver apparently lost control after he took a wrong turn and tried to get back on the right road.

“Ten passengers were found dead on the scene, while nine others, including the driver and a tiny baby, were rushed to the Barberton Hospital.”

It was unclear if the baby’s mother had survived. The victims’ families were being notified, Mabuza said.

Community Safety MEC Petrus Ngomane was at the scene. He asked motorists to drive cautiously.

Ngomane recently visited Mozambique and asked authorities to educate their motorists about road safety, the importance of driving roadworthy vehicles, and adhering to the rules of the road.

“The crash occurred shortly after the department’s MEC, Petrus Ngomane, went to Mozambique and requested Mozambican authorities to assist government to fight road crashes by educating their road users about road safety and ensuring that their vehicles are roadworthy‚” Joseph Mabuza, spokesman to the provincial Department of Community Safety‚ Security and Liaison said.

He said the number of crashes was worrying and Ngomane was pleading with motorists to use the road with caution‚ adding that innocent lives were lost due to human error.

“We cannot continue losing innocent lives on our roads due to negligence. Most accidents can be avoided if motorists can take it upon themselves to adhere to road rules at all times.

“We cannot have traffic officers in all corners of the province‚ that is why we always encourage road users to use the road with care and report those who disobey the rules‚” Ngomane said.

Source: News 24 / TMG Digital