KZN Transport MEC Calls for Murder Charges After Isipingo Crash Kills 11, Including Schoolboy

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, has called on law enforcement agencies to institute murder charges against both the driver of an overloaded minibus taxi and the driver of a truck involved in a fatal collision on the R102 near Isipingo, south of Durban, on Thursday.

Duma’s call followed the crash that claimed the lives of 11 people, including a 13-year-old believed to have been on his way to school, while several others were left in critical condition.

Upon arriving at the scene, the MEC noted that the truck involved in the collision had severely worn tyres, both at the front and rear. He also confirmed that the minibus taxi, which was ferrying passengers, was overloaded at the time of the crash.

“We were informed this morning by the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) about this horrific accident that occurred in this area,” Duma said. “This is around the Lotus Park vicinity. We were told that the truck’s drag may have caused the accident, which could be due to various mechanical factors.”

“I have personally observed that the truck’s tyres were worn. Unfortunately, both the front and rear tyres were in a poor condition,” he added.

Duma said the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) would lead the investigation, which is why the truck driver was accompanied by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

He further called for the arrest of both vehicle owners, insisting that accountability must extend beyond drivers.

“It would be painful to only pursue those who are victims without holding the owners accountable, especially when they profit significantly from these operations,” Duma said.

Referring to the taxi’s passenger load, Duma stated: “Instead of carrying 15 passengers, the taxi had 17 or 18. That is completely unacceptable.”

The MEC said he had enlisted the assistance of KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Gugu Simelane, who dispatched teams of highly skilled medical personnel to assist the injured victims.

Emergency responders described the scene as “horrific.” Seven people survived the crash, including the taxi driver, who was trapped inside the wreckage for several hours. Emergency workers used the Jaws of Life for nearly three hours to free him.

The injured were transported to three hospitals in and around Durban for treatment. The truck driver escaped the crash uninjured.

The accident triggered an immediate emergency response and brought traffic on the R102 to a standstill for several hours.

Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics were among the first responders, arriving at the scene shortly after 7:30am.

ALS spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said the collision involved a fully loaded taxi and a truck, both of which veered off the roadway following the impact.

“We found that both vehicles had left the road. The taxi was eventually pinned against a tree,” Jamieson said.

The severity of the collision resulted in multiple fatalities at the scene, while several other commuters were left trapped inside the wreckage. Firefighters from the eThekwini Fire Department worked alongside paramedics to free the injured using specialised rescue equipment.

Jamieson confirmed that 11 people lost their lives, while approximately eight others sustained serious injuries, most of them critical. The injured were stabilised at the scene before being transported to hospital.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that SAPS had opened an investigation.

“Police will be investigating a case of possible culpable homicide,” Netshiunda said.

DAILY NEWS