Twelve supporters of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party were killed and 32 others injured in a devastating bus crash early Tuesday morning, the party confirmed in a statement. The group was returning to Pretoria after attending a Youth Day rally in Durban on Monday when the accident occurred.
EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the crash took place just after midnight near Vryheid, a town in the KwaZulu-Natal province. According to preliminary findings from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), a truck collided with the side of the bus, ripping it open and causing severe damage, state broadcaster SABC reported.
KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, told reporters he received an initial update shortly after midnight indicating 10 people had died. However, by 5 a.m. the number of confirmed fatalities had risen to 12. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and both the bus and truck drivers, who survived the collision, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The accident has sent shockwaves across the country, drawing condolences from various political figures and highlighting concerns over road safety, particularly during large political mobilizations. Youth Day in South Africa commemorates the 1976 Soweto Uprising and is often marked by rallies and events organized by political parties and youth movements.
This tragedy comes just months after a similar incident in February, in which at least nine African National Congress (ANC) members died in a bus crash as they returned from a party manifesto event held at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. Both incidents underscore ongoing transportation risks during political gatherings and the need for enhanced safety measures for large-scale travel.