Thursday, December 01, 2011

Seventeen die in horror accident in Mpumalanga

By Khanyisa Tabata
01 December 2011

At least 17 people, including a toddler, were killed when a minibus taxi crashed into a truck outside Belfast in Mpumalanga this morning.

Mpumalanga public safety spokesperson Joseph Mabuza says rescue workers are still cutting through the wreckage of the truck to free the occupants.

The minibus, believed to be carrying 17 people, veered out of its lane and collided head-on with a truck on the N4 outside Belfast around 04:00.

The truck dragged the minibus and both vehicles caught fire. A 2-year-old child was among those killed. The taxi was en route from Mozambique to Johannesburg, while the truck was travelling from Johannesburg to Mbombela.

Minister of Transport Sbusiso Ndebele says law enforcement and emergency services officials are out in full force to ensure safe roads, particularly during the December holidays.

He says no mercy will be shown to any person who disobeys road rules.

Ndebele has urged road users to report road traffic offences to 0861 400 800.

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