Authorities say a minibus taxi in which nine people were killed in the Central Karoo on Friday morning, was overloaded.
The Toyota Quantam was carrying 24 passengers when the driver lost control and overturned between Leeu Gamka and Prince Albert Road.
Three people were airlifted to the George Provincial hospital in the Southern Cape in a serious condition.
Most passengers were Basotho nationals returning to work from the Christmas break in Lesotho.
Among them is Magabane Msineni, who says the taxi driver was trying to overtake a towed vehicle at the time of the crash.
Msineni says, “The towed vehicle came loose and swerved across the road. The driver tried to overtake into oncoming traffic. He tried to come back to his lane, that’s when he lost control and the taxi overturned.”
Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie says the crash is being investigated.
Pojie says, “We’ve opened a culpable homicide case regarding the accident at Leeu Gamka that claimed the lives of nine people, five men and four females. Amongst those that are injured is a 10-year old boy. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.”
