At least 12 killed as bus crashes in South Africa

A bus overturned near Johannesburg’s main airport early Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.

The bus, which was transporting over 50 passengers to work, crashed on a busy road near OR Tambo International Airport. Authorities confirmed that 12 people lost their lives, while 45 others sustained injuries.

“This is a disaster; we are at a loss for words,” said Ekurhuleni city transport official Andile Mngwevu.

The cause of the accident remains unclear, but the crash led to the temporary closure of the highway to the airport. Images from the scene showed the bus lying on its side.

A survivor told that the bus appeared to have been speeding before the crash.

Despite having an advanced road network, South Africa continues to struggle with high road fatality rates, often linked to speeding, reckless driving, poorly maintained vehicles, and failure to use seat belts.

On Monday, four schoolchildren were killed and five others injured in a collision involving two vehicles in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.

Last week, at least nine people, including a four-year-old child, lost their lives when a bus veered into a ditch in KwaZulu-Natal. The 82-seater bus was carrying congregants returning from a church service.