An investigation has been launched into the cause of the Western Cape bus accident, killing 24 people, including children when a bus veered off a road and rolled over in South Africa, according to Agence France-Presse. The accident happened Friday morning in the town of De Doorns near Cape Town.
The spokeswoman for the health department of the Western Cape provincial government Ken Davids said that the dead include 22 females and two males. The driver reportedly lost control of the passenger bus and veered off the road 87 miles from Cape Town and landed on its side, South African media said.
The bus was bringing people back home to Cape Town's township of Khayelitsha from a church gathering in eastern Mpumalanga, according to AFP. Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa said the bus was on its way to Cape Town on Friday morning, when the driver lost control of the vehicle t veered off the N1 on the Hex River Pass, near De Doorns, according to Mail and Guardian.
Provincial health department spokeswoman Faiza Steyn indicated that two of the 24 who died were children. Another 45 people were injured and taken to the hospital, according to AFP.
"This is an unfortunate incident. Drivers are urged to be vigilant on the road and obey all traffic laws," said acting South African government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said.
The Inkatha Freedom Party also sent its condolences to the families of those who had died.
"This is a terrible tragedy. We urge people to be extra cautious when it is raining and to follow all the rules of the road," IFP spokesman Petros Sithole said. "The traffic cops and police should investigate whether the bus was overloaded and if so, we would expect the necessary criminal charges to be laid against the bus driver."
"The autopsy process will start over the weekend," Steyn said.
Western Cape transport minister Robin Carlisle said the legal status of the bus and its operating licence will also be investigated.
