The Department of Transport in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed that the taxi involved in a horrific accident on the N3 which claimed seventeen lives was traveling to Johannesburg from Qumbu in Eastern Cape.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport initial investigation has discovered that the taxi affiliated to Uncedo Taxi Association and was carrying 18 passengers,including the driver.
The department revealed that seventeen people were declared dead on the scene of the accident,not 18 as initially reported,only one person survived.
The department released the details of the deceased and that taxi was carrying 7 adult males,3 adult females,3 minors- boys,4 minors-girls and a girl child which is the only surviving passenger.
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements,Siboniso Duma said:"I requested the HOD and the entire team to visit the brave little girl in hospital.
"We are comforted by the fact that she is recovering.
"We thank health professionals for ensuring the provision of quality healthcare.
"We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased."
The MEC stated that at this stage,we wish to indicate that according to the owner of the minibus taxi,the families of the deceased have been identified and notified.
He mentioned that arrangements are being made by the owner and Uncedo Taxi Association for family members to travel to Ladysmith to identify their loved ones.
The MEC has tried to clarify conflicting reports pertaining to the information about the truck driver.
He said we wish to report that according to our quick investigation,the truck driver is a foreign national Mr N Mbedezi,a 37-year-old from Zimbabwe.
The MEC pointed out that during the time of collision,it was raining heavily,dark and misty,and the truck had only one occupant.
He highlighted that the truck belongs to Pangolin Logistics,and the truck driver was driving from Johannesburg towards Durban in direction whilst the minibus taxi was traveling from Durban towards Johannesburg.
The MEC clarified that at the time of the collision,the truck was driving in the fast lane on the South bound and whilst the minibus was driving in the fast lane on North bound.
The MEC has revealed that their investigation has discovered that the the taxi lost control and at the moment is not clear how is lost control.
"From the video footage obtained during this initial stage of the investigation,it is very clear that the minibus lost control and swerved toward the right oncoming traffic lane and collided with a truck head-on.
"The cause of the minibus losing control is unknown at this stage,but we are strongly suspecting the following:heavy rainfall,speed,vehicle defect,or driver negligence,"said MEC Duma.
He emphasised that the second phase of the investigation will focus on point number 2.
The MEC thanked the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner of Police for the support during investigation and also worried about the disappearance of the truck driver.
He said:"We wish to thank Lt General Mkhwanazi for ensuring that an experienced investigator supported by experienced detectives are assigned to execute the following crucial stages of the investigation.
"We remain concerned about the fact that the driver of the trucking company contacted the owner of Pangolin Logistics before disappearing.
"We are asking ourselves too many questions.
"Who assisted him in disappearing from such a remote area and at night?"
He maintained that the third vehicle which was partially involved in an accident was coming from Durban and its occupants were not injured.
"We also wish to report that a second accident involved a silver Renault Clio with two occupants who were driving from Durban.
"They unfortunately drove over bodies of passengers who were flung out of the minibus taxi.
"The two occupants were not injured,"concluded MEC Duma.