11 Killed in Minibus-Truck Crash Near Durban

A deadly collision between a minibus taxi and a truck claimed at least 11 lives near Durban in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province on Thursday morning, emergency services and local officials reported. The crash occurred during rush hour, highlighting ongoing concerns about road safety in the country.

Provincial transport department official Siboniso Duma stated that 11 people, including one schoolchild, died at the scene, based on initial reports. Witnesses described the truck driver making a sudden U-turn, which led to a head-on impact with the oncoming minibus, Duma said. An investigation is underway involving metropolitan and national police to determine the exact cause and any contributing factors.

Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, a private emergency service at the scene, confirmed 11 fatalities and seven critically injured individuals, including the minibus driver who was trapped in the wreckage. Rescue teams worked to extricate the driver, Jamieson told reporters. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

This incident follows closely on the heels of another fatal crash on January 19 near Johannesburg, where a minibus carrying...