A harrowing dashcam video capturing the moments leading up to the tragic KaNyamazane road crash that claimed three lives has surfaced online, shedding new light on the incident.
The accident, which occurred on the D2296 road between Karino and Mbombela at around 07:15 on the morning of August 12, involved a school bus, a bakkie, and an articulated truck.
In the footage, the apparent cause of the collision becomes evident — unsafe overtaking on the narrow stretch of road.
The video shows the school bus appearing to attempt to overtake another vehicle, only to collide head-on with the oncoming bakkie travelling in front of the recording truck.
The articulated truck, unable to stop in time, plows into the wreckage, resulting in the devastating crash.
The accident tragically claimed the lives of three people, two female occupants of the bakkie, who were Transnet employees returning from a night shift, and a young pupil aboard the school bus.
The scene, described by first responders as “chaotic and heart-wrenching,” saw 29 people, including the bus driver and 28 pupils, rushed to Rob Ferreira Hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious.
Eyewitnesses and families of the victims expressed shock and grief as they struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
Peter Maiwashe, whose sister-in-law was in the bakkie, said, “I was totally shocked. It’s a terrible experience for us as a family… I’m lost for words.”
Watch the dashcam video of the crash on the SA Trucker App.
The Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, has since voiced concerns about the rising number of accidents involving schoolchildren. “We cannot continue losing young innocent people on our roads due to recklessness. This must just come to an end,” he stated, emphasizing the urgent need for stricter road safety measures.
The road, which was initially closed following the accident, has since been reopened to traffic.
