CONFIRMED: 5 EMASWATI KILLED IN SA TRUCK CRASH

MBABANE – The people who were involved in an accident along the R33 Road between Carolina and Warburton in South Africa (SA), are all emaSwati and the death toll has risen to five.

There were seven passenger on board the truck, which was ferrying a consignment of timber. It is reported that five died, including the driver, while two are recuperating at the Carolina Provincial Hospital. It is believed the driver of the truck lost control of it, which resulted in the accident. Montigny Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andrew Le Roux confirmed that one of the trucks which were contracted to their company, belonging to one Sibongile Dube, was involved in a fatal accident.

“We are aware that there were fatalities and we are still awaiting details of the accident, because the majority of the victims have not been identified,” said Le Roux. According to Le Roux, the truck was transporting timber from Bhunya to Johannesburg. He said the people on board the truck were not their employees and based on information they had received, they were believed to be hitchhikers.

Saddened

Le Roux said they were deeply saddened by the tragedy and extended their sincere condolences to the families and friends of those affected. Eswatini Road Freight Association Chairperson, Sihlangu Nhlabatsi, sent condolences to the families of the deceased emaSwati. Nhlabatsi said the truck departed from Bhunya with only the driver and was destined for Johannesburg, and they had no information regarding the passengers. He said it was unfortunate that the association issued a warning against offering lifts to passengers. “A truck is not a kombi, but it is meant to transport goods and not people,” he said.

Nhlabatsi said drivers should refrain from offering lifts to hitchhikers. He stated that there was a need to sensitise drivers against this, adding that they were now facing challenges in identifying the passengers. He said it was unfortunate that the driver also passed away, hence they were not sure whether the passengers were emaSwati and where they were from. Nhlabasti said Dube, who was the owner of the truck, was a businesswoman who was their member.  

Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liason, Moeti Mmusi, said the deceased were all identified as emaSwati.
Mmusi said investigations into the crash were already underway, adding that the deceased were all males. The names and identities of the deceased have been concealed as their next of kin could not be sought for comment.

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