
=====================================================================
Bus Accidents
=====================================================================

Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

[         w

 MEDIA RELEASE
26 JANUARY 2000

ABOUT THE SERIES OF BUS ACCIDENTS

South Africa and our Province of the EASTERN CAPE in particular is plagued by a series of bus accidents resulting in loss of lives and 
serious injuries.

It is the economically active age group and young children that normally become targets.

The recent bus accident that occurred between Queenstown and Cofimvaba on Sunday night the 23rd January 2000 has left a trail of death and 
destruction in its wake.

A total of twenty-six (26) passengers were killed, eighteen (18) of those on the accident spot while another eight (8) died later in 
hospital.

The victims were coming mostly from the areas of Port St Johns, Libode, Ngqeleni, Engcobo and Cala.

Preliminary observations made so far, point out to human error on the part of the bus driver. Secondly, the bus did not have a roadworthy 
certificate during the time of the accident as is required by the law.

The Acting MEC for Transport Mr P. Masualle, who had also visited the accident scene and had an opportunity of interviewing some of the 
injured expressed departmental condolences to the all the affected families.

The National Minister Mr Dullah Omar has promised to squeeze time out of his hectic schedule to come and visit some of these families 
during the coming weekend.

The traffic law enforcement campaign has been intensified in the Province since the historic Cape Town Bus Summit in November 1999. The 
Department of Transport strongly appeals to all other stakeholders particularly the bus owners to embrace the resolutions of the Cape Town 
Summit.

Whilst Provincial government will be intensifying this campaign to clamp down on all unroadwothy public transport facilities travelling 
through the Province, passengers are being urged to exercise sufficient responsibility towards their own safety. They should not let their 
own personal safety to be compromised and submit to the whims of reckless drivers.

Quite recently, a total of twenty-two (22) buses were ordered out of the road in and around Umtata after it was discovered that these were 
unroadworthy.

Procedurally, it becomes the driver of the bus or the Owner Company that could be charged for culpable homicide but not the government as 
is perceived by a spoke person of the Drive Alive Campaign. Whilst it is a known fact that the government has to do its level best to 
ensure the all round safety on the roads, it can not be held criminally responsible for road accidents.

Issued by the Department of Transport Eastern Cape

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Home | About the Eastern Cape | Documents
 Economy | Structures | International Relations | Links
 Premier's Office | Speeches & Media Releases
 Top of Page

---------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Eastern Cape

Premier's Office

Structures

Documents

Speeches & Media Releases

International Relations

Economy

Links


