Pongola Accident: Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula Reveals Cause of Deadly Crash to Be Driver Error

• Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the accident that left 19 children and adults dead was human error
• The 28-year-old driver, Sibusiso Siyaya, allegedly overtook multiple vehicles before colliding with the bakkie
• A concerned citizen said that the deadly crash could have been avoided had the government listened earlier

KWAZULU-NATAL - The cause of the horrific accident on the N2 near Pongola, which left 21 people dead, was found to be driver error.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, speaking at a media briefing at the accident site, said an investigation into the crash established the cause.

The 28-year-old driver, Sibusiso Siyaya, allegedly overtook multiple vehicles before colliding with the bakkie that the victims were in, News24 reported.

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Operation Dudula in KZN wants truck company to compensate families affected by Pongala accident

Angry residents believe their calls for the government to attend to the issue of trucks on the N2 fell on deaf ears and resulted in the deadly accident.

A concerned citizen told EWN that the crash could have been avoided had the government listened to the Pongola community.

The KwaZulu-Natal government visited the victims’ families and will assist them with funeral arrangements.

Mzansi reacts to the accident:

@SimplySteve_13 said:

“Error? kante how do you define the word “Error”?”

@Zodwaonly wrote:

“Terrible incident. Driver error is an obvious conclusion. Kodwa ke there could have been mechanical i.e. brake failure that won’t be investigated now that the obvious is mentioned. Just saying. May the souls of the departed rest in peace and their families be comforted.”

@Waltersonboy added:

“These truck drivers have been reported numerous times and it doesn’t look like Mbalula has any ideas on how to deal with them.”

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Man rescues woman amid fiery truck accident in KwaZulu-Natal, incident caught on camera

Operation Dudula in KZN wants truck company to compensate families affected by Pongala accident

In a related matter, Briefly News also reported Operation Dudula has extended its mandate following a horrific truck accident in Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal.

The anti-immigration group has called on companies to stop hiring foreign nationals. On Friday, 16 September, a truck crashed into a bakkie transporting school children.

The accident resulted in the deaths of 19 pupils, the bakkie driver, and a teacher’s assistant. The KZN Operation Dudula structure condemned the accident and vowed to visit the affected families, according to TimesLIVE.

Source: Briefly News