Durban – The grim task of recovering bodies and the injured has ended with the death toll from the horror bus crash along the N2 between Mandeni and Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) rising to nine overnight.
“The complicated rescue operation was completed at 23:30. And there was no victim left behind in the wreckage,” said KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma.
The bus, which was carrying church members from Richards Bay to Shakaskraal, crashed after a tire burst on Sunday, (9 March 2025).
The bus carrying members of Twelve Apostles Church in Trinity from Ward 28 in KwaDukuza Local Municipality, burst a tyre and rolled about 100 metres down the embankment.
Initially, reports from the scene put the death toll at six.
However, as the search and rescue mission continued the number of the dead kept rising.
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The search and rescue team involved KZN’s Road Traffic Inspectorate, traffic departments, fire and disaster teams from Mandeni, KwaDukuza, and SA Police Service officers.
“The team conducted a very complicated search and rescue operation due to the steep embankment and thick bush,” MEC Duma said Monday morning (10 March 2025), adding that he would visit the crash scene today.
“As we start the day, we wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of the nine church members of Twelve Apostles Church in Trinity, Ward 28 in KwaDukuza Local Municipality,” MEC Duma said.
“This morning at 08:00 I will be at the scene of the accident.
“I will be joined by the Mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality Councillor Muzi ‘Ali’ Ngidi, other local leaders, and the department’s Chaplain Apostle V Mpungose.”
MEC Duma said the team will return “this morning to pull up the wreckage”.
