By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that African National Congress (ANC) members have been killed in a crash while they were travelling to the party’s 112th birthday rally in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, on Saturday morning.
According to Cele, six members lost their lives, while at least 18 others were injured.
The bus the members were travelling in rolled down an embankment on its way to Mbombela in the early hours of this morning.
Preliminary reports indicate that three buses were following each other when the third bus hit the second one from behind and overturned into a gorge.
Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety MEC spokesperson Vongani Chauke says unconfirmed reports indicate that there are 6 fatalities from the accident, with several passengers sustaining injuries.
“The injured passengers have been transferred to hospitals in the Mopani district. The road is currently closed as emergency and rescue personnel are clearing the scene, and further details will be provided in due course.”
Chauke adds that the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Florence Radzilani, and other government leaders are to visit the victims in various hospitals in the province.
“She will be leading a team of government Leaders, including the MEC for Health, Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, the Executive Mayor of Mopani District, Clr Pule Shayi, the Mayor of Molemole Local Municipality, Clr Edward Paya, and other government leaders as they will be visiting the scene of the accident and patients in various hospitals.”
ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane told ENCA that, “This morning we lost some of our own members, who were on their way here from Peter Mokaba region. Our leaders from Limpopo have already gone back home. We are quite saddened by that. Their attempt to be here will not be in vain.’
“[It’s] a very devastating experience, there are those that have been confirmed, but we’re waiting for the police to clear the entire area. The MEC of health from Limpopo is also at the scene, numbers have been shared, but we believe that up until we get confirmation from the authorities, we know that lives have been lost. We are quite saddened by that and we commit to do better in their own memory.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the party’s outlook for the year in Mbombela in the Mpumalanga.
It comes days after the ANC celebrated its 112th birthday.
His address is expected to not only set the tone for the election year ahead but also to reflect on the state of the party, its challenges and deliver a message of hope for its future and its ability to restore the confidence of the South African electorate.
Economic growth, energy, crime, gender-based violence, corruption and renewal of the ANC are expected to feature strongly in the statement which was approved by the party’s national executive committee this week.