Between 10 and 11 people, including a schoolchild, were killed when a minibus taxi and a truck collided near Durban in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. The crash occurred on the R102 near Lotus Park at about 7:30 a.m., leaving several others critically injured and trapped in the wreckage.
Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, confirmed the fatalities and serious injuries, highlighting the severity of the crash. Eight people were critically injured in the collision, according to emergency services.
Provincial transport official Siboniso Duma said the casualty count was preliminary. “Witnesses have alleged that the truck driver made a U-turn resulting in a head-on collision,” he said.
During the collision, the truck left the roadway and pinned the taxi against a tree. The minibus driver was among those critically injured and trapped in the twisted metal. The eThekwini fire department worked at the scene, cutting patients free from the wreckage.
The tragedy comes days after another fatal collision in Johannesburg on January 19 left 14 schoolchildren dead. In that incident, authorities said the minibus driver was overtaking a line of vehicles when it collided with a truck. The 22-year-old driver was arrested and charged with 14 counts of murder.
South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, expressed alarm over the persistent rise in traffic deaths linked to public transport. She instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation to work with local authorities to investigate the crash. Creecy said a preliminary report from the inquiry is expected within 48 hours.
Minibus taxis serve as the main mode of public transport for many South Africans, carrying an estimated 70% of commuters. These vehicles form the backbone of transportation infrastructure in urban and rural areas across the country.
Road safety remains a critical concern across Africa. The continent records roughly 300,000 road fatalities annually, about a quarter of the global total, despite housing just 3% of the world’s vehicles. Africa has the world’s highest traffic fatality rate at 26.6 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with the global average of 18, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
The crash near Durban highlights the ongoing challenges facing South Africa’s transportation sector. As the country grapples with how to improve safety standards while maintaining affordable transportation options for millions of commuters, authorities continue investigating the circumstances that led to this latest tragedy.
The proximity of two major minibus taxi crashes has intensified calls for comprehensive reform of the industry and broader road safety measures. Transport officials face mounting pressure to address systemic issues that continue to claim lives on South African roads while ensuring that essential transportation services remain accessible to the millions who depend on them daily.
South Africa continues to struggle with poor road safety, an issue the government is working to improve.
According to data released last week, the country recorded 11,418 road fatalities last year, roughly 6 percent fewer than in 2024.