Road blocks are to be increased in the Eastern Cape to check public vehicles after 18 people burnt to death in an accident because the emergency exit of the bus they were travelling in was welded shut.
The Eastern Cape Department of Transport will be holding regular road blocks to check public vehicles after 18 passengers burnt to death in an accident because the emergency exit of the bus they were in was welded shut.
The accident occurred near Fort Beaufort on Sunday night. The bus was returning to George from a funeral in Lady Frere when it hit a cow. It overturned and burst into flames. The department said the bus was only a 25-seater, but was actually carrying 38 people.
Many of the dead were burnt beyond recognition, and it will take some time before police are able to contact all their families.
Most of the deceased were trapped at the back of the bus. "The exit window at the back had been welded and closed with wire mesh. It was a deathtrap," said Dennis Neer, the Eastern Cape Transport MEC. He added that a full investigation into the crash was underway.
The driver, who survived, has been charged with culpable homicide, and it is likely that the owner of the bus will also be charged.
Sipho Matshawa, spokesman for the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, told CARtoday.com that the bus was not from the area, but they were investigating where it had been checked for roadworthiness and had received its certificate of fitness.
Matshawa said the MEC had instructed officials to adjust shifts so they could hold regular road blocks. The focus would be on public transport. “These overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles often travel at night, so we will be holding regular checks throughout the day. We will be checking for overloading, roadworthiness and driver fitness,” said Matshawa.
