WESTERN CAPE — A devastating Touwsriver N1 bus crash has claimed 16 lives and left dozens more injured after a passenger vehicle overturned in the Western Cape early Thursday. The accident, which involved a bus carrying approximately 78 passengers, including children, has prompted an immediate government response and a formal investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy.
The bus was traveling from Cape Town to Idutywa in the Eastern Cape when the incident occurred near Gulfstream Garage on the N1 highway. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the collision resulted in 16 fatalities. Of the surviving occupants, 20 individuals sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to Worcester Hospital for medical care. An additional 43 passengers on board refused medical treatment at the scene.
Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have officially conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families who lost loved ones in the disaster. In a joint statement, the ministers wished a speedy recovery to all those who sustained injuries in the overturned vehicle.
To assist those affected by the crash, Creecy and Hlengwa have directed the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to provide the necessary support to both the grieving families and the injured survivors.
Furthermore, the transport leadership has instructed the RTMC to investigate the exact cause of the crash in close collaboration with local authorities. A preliminary investigation report is expected to be submitted within 48 hours of the inquiry’s commencement.
