By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Sixteen people have died when a bus transporting 78 passengers overturned near Touws River in Western Cape province early hours of Thursday morning, 02 July 2026, the Western Cape Mobility Department confirmed.
According to authorities, the bus was travelling from the city of Cape Town to Idutywa in the Eastern Cape.
Those injured were transported to the hospital in the town of Worcester, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Cape Town, while at least 43 passengers refused any medical treatment.
“We confirm an incident on the N1 near Touwsrivier at approximately 00:40 this morning, where a bus was transporting residents has overturned,” said the Western Cape Mobility Department in a statement.
“Tragically, 16 people have lost their lives, while two others sustained serious injuries,” it said.
“Emergency services remain on scene, providing assistance and managing the incident,” the department said, adding that a stop-and-go traffic system was in place as rescue and recovery operations continued.
The National Department of Transport said in a statement that Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa had expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to those injured.
The ministry said the ministers had also directed the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to provide assistance to the bereaved families and injured passengers.
It added that the RTMC had been instructed to investigate the cause of the crash in cooperation with local authorities, with a preliminary report expected within 48 hours once the investigation begins.
“The cause of the crash will be subject to the ongoing investigation by the RTMC and the South African Police Services,” said Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane.
This is the second fatal bus crash in South Africa this week after a bus driver was killed when a bus transporting Malawians to the Beitbridge border in Limpopo overturned on Wednesday.