A bus lost control and flipped on a highway early Tuesday, March 11, 2025, near Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, killing 16 people as some passengers were thrown from the vehicle.
According to transport ministry spokesman Collen Msibi, 12 people died at the scene of the crash and four others died later at the hospital. Reports indicate that 11 passengers were critically injured and 24 had moderate to serious injuries.
“On arrival we found patients lying across the road,” said William Ntladi, an emergency management spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni municipality.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a chaotic situation with bodies scattered across the highway. Ntladi confirmed that two bodies were trapped in the wreckage of the overturned bus. Personal belongings including handbags, a lunch box, and a water bottle were strewn among the debris.
The bus had been transporting people from the township of Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, and was just a short distance from exiting the highway when the crash occurred. Officials stated that no other vehicle was involved in the accident, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Emergency services personnel, police, and forensic officers worked at the scene, attempting to lift the bus back onto its wheels to check if more victims were trapped underneath. The bodies of some victims lay on the highway, covered with silver blankets.
“We are lost for words. This is a disaster,” said Andile Mngwevu, a city councilor. “To see so many bodies lying around is quite saddening, and the city really feels for the families who would have expected to see their loved ones return home later today.”
The crash occurred around 6:45 am on the northbound lane of the R21 highway near the airport. Officials have ruled out overloading as a factor in the crash. According to some reports, the bus belonged to the City of Ekurhuleni and was following its usual route when the accident occurred.
South African Transport Minister Barbara Creecy expressed serious concern about the incident, noting that this was the third major bus accident in the country within the past week. She has instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation to meet with all bus operators in the coming week to discuss ways to improve passenger safety on South African roads.
The injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the deceased were taken to the Germiston Mortuary. The City of Ekurhuleni has expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and stated that it will ensure accountability and address any shortcomings once the final investigation report is available.
This latest incident follows other recent bus accidents in South Africa. Just a day before this crash, four school children were killed and five others injured in a collision around Ekurhuleni. Last week, at least nine people, including a four-year-old child, were killed when their bus careered into a ditch in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa has been struggling with a high rate of road deaths due to various factors including speeding, reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles, and failure to use seat belts. These recent accidents have highlighted the need for improved road safety measures across the country.
The police are treating the crash site as a crime scene due to the fatalities, which is standard procedure for accidents resulting in deaths. A full investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
Local authorities have promised to provide support to the families affected by this crash. The site of the accident, the R21 highway near O.R. Tambo International Airport, is a major transportation route in the Johannesburg area.
The bus crash has once again brought attention to road safety issues in South Africa, particularly concerning public transportation vehicles. The upcoming meetings between the Road Traffic Management Corporation and bus operators will likely focus on implementing stricter safety protocols and potentially enhancing vehicle inspection requirements.
