Twenty four people were killed when a passenger bus and a smaller transport vehicle collided in north-east South Africa, police said on Monday.
Four others sustained serious injuries when the vehicles crashed head-on in the town of Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo province, provincial police spokesman, Moatshe Ngoepe, said in a statement.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident and had laid a charge of culpable homicide against the drivers, according to the statement.
According to police, the bus was reportedly coming from Giyani towards Mooketsi and the Quantum was coming from Mooketsi towards Giyani when the two collided.
“During this fatal crash, 24 passengers in the Quantum died instantly and one sustained serious injuries and he was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
“In the bus, the driver and two passengers sustained serious injuries and they were also transported to the hospital for medical treatment, ” Limpopo police’s Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said.
Authorities were still in the process of identifying those killed in the accident, the statement said.
Road accidents are common in South Africa and many other African nations due to reckless driving and poor conditions of public transport vehicles and roads.
Acting Limpopo police commissioner Major-General Jan Scheepers said he was “saddened by the loss of so many people” but assured members of the community that the police would leave no stone unturned to uncover the main cause of this fatal crash.