Survivors in R34 Horrific Crash Suggest Bus Driver May Have Slept or Attempted Overtake

The investigation into the horrific crash between a side tipper truck and a passenger bus on the R34 near Vryheid continues, as conflicting survivor accounts emerge about what may have caused the tragedy that claimed ten lives.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, confirmed on Tuesday that the official death toll has been revised down to ten, following personal visits to the crash scene, hospitals, and mortuaries.

Duma revealed that earlier reports had indicated 12 fatalities, but miscounts caused by dismembered body parts and poor visibility led to initial confusion.

Of the ten deceased, three were women and seven were men. Their bodies have been moved to Dundee Mortuary. The impact of the crash also left two passengers critically injured, while three others were hurt but remain in stable condition.

Thirty-three passengers were able to walk away from the scene, and both the truck and bus drivers survived and are currently being treated in hospital.

Watch: Watch: Two side tipper trucks in serious crash on R34 Memel Road near Newcastle

Speaking from the crash site, Duma said, “I witnessed a trail of destruction. Innocent lives have been lost, and the lives of many families have been altered and turned upside down.”

While the exact cause of the collision has yet to be determined, initial accounts from surviving passengers have raised troubling possibilities. Some claim that the bus driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, while others allege that he was attempting to overtake another vehicle in poor visibility before the head-on impact with the truck. Duma cautioned against speculation but promised transparency: “We do not want to speculate at this stage. We are confident that the investigation will shed light.”

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) have launched a full investigation into the incident.

Duma also used the moment to highlight broader issues affecting road safety in the province. He criticised the growing presence of heavy trucks on roads like the R34, which are not designed for high-volume freight traffic. “Trucks are not supposed to be on this road in the first place and should be using the N2,” he said.

Read | Plan to ban trucks from using the R33, R34 and R66

According to Transnet, more than 303,000 trucks used the Richards Bay Port in the 2024 financial year – an average of 6,000 per week – despite the port infrastructure being originally designed for only around 200 trucks per day.

“We continue to receive briefings from Minister Barbara Creecy about efforts to resuscitate the rail network,” Duma added. “Working with national government, we are doubling efforts to move cargo from road to rail and reduce the strain on our roads.”