The death toll in the horrific Mandeni bus crash has now risen to nine after another critically injured patient succumbed to her injuries.
Investigators have launched a formal probe into the tragedy that unfolded on the N2, where a Pontys Transport bus from Tongaat, carrying church members from Richards Bay to Shakaskraal, met its disastrous fate.
According to early reports, the crash occurred on Sunday, 09 March 2025, at approximately 16:15 near route marker N2-28, 2,4S.
According to preliminary investigations by the RTMC, a sudden tyre failure may have caused the driver to lose control.
In a matter of seconds, the bus barreled through a crash barrier, plunged down an embankment for about 100 metres, and ultimately overturned.
This chain reaction left the vehicle mangled and the scene in chaos.
The passengers, members of a local church, faced a nightmare scenario when the bus, already in a critical state, became a rolling heap of twisted metal.
The initial reports confirmed eight fatalities, but the grim count has now increased to nine.
Among the victims are six women, one man, and a four-year-old child.
Read | Bus crashes into ditch injuring 6 in KZN
Rescue efforts were swift and relentless, with emergency teams, including Road Traffic Inspectorate personnel and local Mandeni traffic officials, working through the night to extract the injured and recover the wreck.
The injured – more than 60 people – were rushed to hospitals across the iLembe District Municipality for urgent medical care.
While tyre failure remains the prime suspect, authorities are not ruling out other factors such as speed, road conditions, or potential mechanical faults.
The RTMC has reassured the public that a thorough analysis is underway to establish the actual cause of the accident.
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