11 Dead After Minibus Slams into Truck in Horrifying Accident

At least 11 people were killed Thursday after a minibus taxi collided head-on with a truck in South Africa, marking the latest deadly crash involving public transportation just days after a similar tragedy claimed the lives of schoolchildren.

The crash occurred near the city of Durban in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal. Provincial transport official Siboniso Duma said preliminary reports indicate that 11 people, including a school-aged child, died at the scene.

According to witness accounts cited by Duma, the truck driver allegedly attempted a U-turn, triggering a head-on collision with the oncoming minibus taxi.

Emergency responders described a chaotic and devastating scene. Garrith Jamieson, a spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, said 11 people were confirmed dead and several others were critically injured. The minibus driver was reportedly trapped inside the wreckage and had to be rescued.

Early findings from investigators revealed multiple safety violations. Duma said the truck involved in the crash was operating illegally with severely worn tires. At the same time, the minibus driver’s professional driving permit — required to operate public transport in South Africa — had expired in 2023.

The fatal collision comes just over a week after another devastating crash involving a minibus taxi and a truck near Johannesburg killed 14 schoolchildren. In that case, the 22-year-old minibus driver was arrested and charged with 14 counts of murder after authorities alleged he was driving recklessly while overtaking other vehicles before slamming into the truck. Prosecutors later upgraded the initial manslaughter-style charge to murder.

Following Thursday’s crash, South Africa’s transport minister, Barbara Creecy, voiced alarm over the growing number of deadly accidents involving public transportation.

She said she has instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation to work with local authorities to investigate the latest incident. A preliminary report is expected within 48 hours of the investigation beginning.

Minibus taxis are the primary mode of transportation for millions of South Africans, with estimates suggesting they are used by about 70 percent of daily commuters traveling to and from work.

The tragedy also highlights a broader road safety crisis across Africa. Traffic accidents kill an estimated 300,000 people on the continent each year, accounting for roughly a quarter of global road deaths. Africa has the highest road traffic fatality rate in the world, with about 26.6 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with a global average of around 18 — despite the continent accounting for only about 3 percent of the world’s vehicles.