At least 16 people, including children, have died after a passenger bus carrying 78 people overturned in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday as the bus was travelling from Cape Town to Idutywa, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
The RTMC said the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle after swerving to avoid a collision with a delivery truck, causing the bus to overturn.
Police confirmed that most of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased include seven men, five women and three children.
Authorities also said 43 passengers declined medical treatment following the crash, while investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident.
South Africa continues to record one of the highest road fatality rates on the continent, with speeding, reckless driving, poorly maintained vehicles and failure to use seat belts identified as major contributing factors.
According to RTMC data, 11,485 people died in road crashes across the country in 2025, representing a decline of more than five per cent compared to the previous year. Most of the victims were pedestrians.
