Another liSwati in fatal truck accident in SA

MBABANE – Another liSwati truck driver in South Africa has been involved in a fatal accident that claimed four lives in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal.

It is reported that the driver, who is from Eswatini, as reported in SABC News, vanished from the scene.

However, Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said nothing has been communicated to them by the South African Police Service (SAPS) with regards to the issue.

“Nothing has been communicated to us by SAPS with regard to the matter,” said Vilakati.

Chairman of the National Road Transportation Council (NRTC) Sihlangu Nhlabatsi only sent condolences to the affected families, stating that the association had no link to the driver of the truck because he was driving a foreign truck, not one that is registered in the country.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport is investigating the circumstances that led to a crash that claimed four lives along the N3 interchange in Bergville, as reported by SABC News. The crash involving a truck and a taxi also left six others in a critical condition.

According to reports by the provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), the taxi was parked in an emergency lane when the truck rear-ended and dragged it under.

Provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate Spokesperson Sindi Msimang says police are investigating the case of culpable homicide.

“The driver is still missing; he fled the scene after causing the accident yesterday. We managed to get hold of a company that had employed him, and they have confirmed that the driver is from Swaziland, and he is not answering their calls either. A case of culpable homicide has been opened in Ladysmith, South African Police Service (SAPS),” says Msimang.

KZN Transport Department Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya says the MEC has conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and assigned a team to look for the families of the victims.

“The MEC has requested motorists travelling towards Gauteng to approach the area with caution as emergency personnel; SAPS and RTI are currently on the scene of the accident.”

Full article available in our publication.