13 January 2009
Nine people were killed and eight others were seriously injured when two
minibuses collided head-on in Phokeng Village near Rustenburg this evening. One
minibus was a taxi transporting passengers from Rustenburg to the surrounding
villages whilst the other was a Coin Security vehicle travelling towards
Rustenburg.
The deceased are eight males and one female. Six of them, including the
female, were travelling in the Quantum taxi whilst the rest of the deceased are
believed to be security personnel also travelling in a Quantum minibus. The
four people who were in the security minibus were flung out of the vehicle when
the collision happened and the vehicle was completely destroyed when it caught
fire.
The deceased include the drivers of the two vehicles. It appears that the
driver of the security minibus lost control of the vehicle in a rainy condition
and collided head on with the taxi. Eight of the injured passengers were taken
to Job Tabane Hospital in Rustenburg.
North West Transport, Roads and Community Safety MEC Phenye Vilakazi have
described the accident as horrific. He passed his condolences to the families
of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
"Once against such incidents remind us that road safety is the
responsibility for all of us and we must take such responsibility even more
serious," said Vilakazi.
For more information contact:
James Moche
Tel: 018 387 4705
Cell: 082 802 0585
Issued by: Department of Transport, North West Provincial Government
13 January 2009
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za/)
