At least 12 people died, and 45 others were injured when a bus overturned near OR Tambo International Airport early Tuesday, officials said. The bus, carrying over 50 passengers, was heading to work when it crashed on a busy highway. Authorities closed the road as emergency teams responded. Paramedics treated the injured and took them to nearby hospitals. “We are lost for words. This is a disaster,” said Ekurhuleni transport official Andile Mngwevu.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation. However, early reports suggest the bus may have been speeding. A survivor stated that the vehicle seemed to be moving too fast before it lost control. Images from the scene showed the bus on its side, with shattered glass and debris scattered on the road.
Despite South Africa’s modern road network, traffic deaths remain high. Officials blame speeding, reckless driving, and poor vehicle maintenance. Many accidents also involve passengers not wearing seatbelts. This crash follows another fatal accident in Ekurhuleni on Monday, where four schoolchildren died, and five others were injured.
Last week, nine people, including a four-year-old child, lost their lives when a bus plunged into a ditch in KwaZulu-Natal. The 82-seater vehicle was carrying churchgoers returning home. With road deaths rising, officials face growing pressure to improve safety and enforce stricter traffic laws.