minibus taxi – praag.org

14 die in minibus taxi collision

The Klerksdorp Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after fourteen people died in a head collision between two minibus taxis yesterday, 01 December 2013 at 19:30, near Klerksdorp.

It is alleged that a Toyota HI-Ace minibus was travelling from Taung to Johannesburg, carrying fifteen passengers and a Toyota Quantum minibus with a driver only was travelling to Wolmaransstad collided. According to the information, the Quantum overtook a truck and it collided head on with the Toyota Hi-Ace. Twelve people including both drivers of the minibus taxis and three children died on the scene. The other three passengers with serious injuries were rushed to Tshepong Hospital.

Sapa reports that North West public safety MEC Nono Maloyi urged motorists to exercise patience and to comply with traffic laws.

“Overtaking in an unsafe area is regarded as negligent driving and this leads to accidents. Losing 14 at once is too much and we are not going to allow that,” he said.

Maloyi said reckless drivers would be dealt with. He also advised drivers to keep their lights on, especially when it rained.

He sent condolences to the families and friends of those who died.

Six killed in Diepsloot minibus taxi crash

Six people were killed and two critically injured when a minibus taxi overturned near Diepsloot on Wednesday morning, paramedics said.

The taxi overturned on the N14 near the R511 off-ramp, said ER24 spokeswoman Vanessa Jackson.

“One of the critically injured patients was airlifted to [Chris Hani] Baragwanath Hospital.”

Seven others suffered moderate and minor injuries. They were treated on the scene before being taken to various hospitals.

Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi advised motorists to use alternative routes as traffic was at a standstill in the area.

“Summit Road and the R511 will be closed until the accident is cleared,” he said.

The cause of the accident was not known and relevant authorities were at the scene.

Mulaudzi appealed to motorist to be vigilant and cautious on the roads.

“We are on our knees begging motorist to drive safe, especially at this time of the year.” – Sapa

Three Zimbabweans smuggle explosives into South Africa

A man arrested for illegal possession of explosives appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, Limpopo police said.

Colonel Ronel Otto said Nkosinathi Ndlovu was arrested in the early hours of Thursday.

“A Zimbabwean man travelling in a taxi from Zimbabwe to South Africa was arrested at the Beit Bridge border post in the early hours of this morning [Thursday] while attempting to smuggle explosives into the country.”

She said the minibus taxi was stopped for a routine search of all passengers and a sniffer dog reacted positively to an item of luggage. A search revealed 30 pieces of explosives, without detonators.

The case was postponed to November 28.

In a similar case on Wednesday, a Zimbabwean man, Zikhala Busane, appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court after police found 13 blasting cartridges and 13 connector cap fuses in the overheard luggage compartment of a bus entering the country from Zimbabwe. Police had stopped the bus for a routine search.

“Initially, no passenger took responsibility of the explosives but the police’s investigative prowess linked Zikhala Busane to the illegal explosive devices,” said Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

The matter was postponed to November 27.

A Zimbabwean woman Elita Sibanda, 23, was expected to appear in the same court on Friday for a similar offence.

Mulaudzi said Sibanda was found in possession of 26 plastic cartridges and 100 detonators while on a bus from Zimbabwe to South Africa last month. She faces charges of unauthorised supply or possession of explosives or incendiary devices. – Sapa