By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Eastern Cape Transport Department confirmed that seven people have been killed in a road crash between a bus and a minibus taxi in KwaNobuhle in Kariega in the Eastern Cape.
Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the crash happened when a fully-loaded minibus taxi, transporting workers from KwaNobuhle to town, made a U-turn in front of an oncoming Algoa Bus, which had only the driver on board.
Binqose, said a total of eighteen people were attended to on the scene.
“Two sustained serious injuries, while others suffered varying degrees of injuries and were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment,” he said.
Binqose said emergency services responded swiftly to the scene.
Authorities have since opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash, with questions now focusing on how the manoeuvre was made in the path of oncoming traffic.
The MEC for Transport in the Eastern Cape Xolile Nqatha extended his sincere condolences to those families that have lost their loved ones, while wishing those in hospital a speedy and full recovery.
“We are looking into the real cause of this crash, and we are urging road users, motorists, in particular, to remain extra vigilant and help us avoid, avoidable crashes, said Nqatha.
Meanwhile the Road Accident Fund (RAF) will require a significant government bailout.
This follows the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling, which on Thursday dismissed, with costs, its appeal against a high court judgment that declared a Board Notice and its RAF1 Form unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid.
It has been estimated the RAF has about R500 billion in unqualified contingencies, a portion of which is attributable to the fund rejecting claims that complied with the RAF Act but did not comply with the Board Notice and RAF1 Form.
The 2026 Budget Review said the total liabilities of social security funds at the end of 2024/25 were reported at R433.1 billion, of which the RAF accounted for 85.5%, equivalent to R370.3 billion.
The 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement released in November 2025 said the RAF remains a significant fiscal risk and its financial position is expected to deteriorate over the medium term.
It said the RAF’s liabilities are projected to increase from R369.7 billion in 2024/25 to R422.6 billion in 2027/28.
SCA Judge Caroline Nicholls, with judges Keoagile Matojane, Raylene Keightley and Mpho Mamosebo, and acting judge Thandi Norman concurring, said on Thursday a section of the RAF Act empowers the minister, and not the RAF, to make regulations.