KZN, Mpumalanga health MECs visit horror bus crash survivors at Vryheid hospital

• Four hospitalised patients are recovering well
• Post-mortems on the eight deceased, which include two siblings, to be concluded this evening;
• Survivors to receive counselling.

26 February 2024

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Ms Nomagugu Simelane has commended the teams of emergency and healthcare workers who responded with efficiency to the horror bus crash which claimed eight lives and left scores injured in Dumbe, during the early hours of yesterday.

Accompanied by Mpumalanga Health MEC Ms Sasekani Manzini, MEC Simelane today visited three of the four survivors, at Vryheid Hospital, where they are receiving ongoing care.

The fourth survivor is receiving treatment at Greys Hospital.

All four survivors are in a satisfactory condition.

During the visit, it emerged that among the deceased are a man and seven women, including two siblings.

Officials also revealed that the bus passengers were treated at Vryheid Hospital and Dumbe Community Health Centre yesterday and discharged shortly thereafter.

The bus was transporting ANC members back to Mpumalanga when it overturned on the R33 road. They had attended the Mayihlome Rally and People's Manifesto launch, which took place in Durban on Saturday.

MEC Simelane sent her deepest condolences to the affected families, adding that the survivors would be receiving counselling in Mpumalanga Province.

The MEC heaped praise on all first responders, as well as healthcare personnel who attended to the survivors.

"We appreciate the quick response time from our team and the co-ordination between the emergency health workers who were able to respond as quickly as we expected them to.

Had that not happened, we don’t know what the outcome would have been. So, we really appreciate the work that they have done.

"We would also like to send our condolences to the families of the eight comrades who have tragically lost their lives during the accident, and we want to say, we are keeping them in our prayers."

MEC Simelane said all eight post-mortems would be completed this evening.

ENDS Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health