The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday expressed shock following a road accident that left 15 pensioners dead and 13 seriously injured.
A horse and trailer hit them about 3km before Tugela Ferry in KwaZulu-Natal, provincial traffic department spokesperson Colin Govender said.
The pensioners were queuing to collect their grants from a mobile unit when the horse and trailer tried to overtake another truck and ploughed into the pensioners on the side of the road at about 1pm.
Transport Minister Dullah Omar’s spokesperson, Ndivhuwo Mabaya, said 13 people including pensioners and hawkers died at the scene and two died later at the Church of Scotland hospital at Tugela Ferry.
Mabaya said Omar was shocked to hear of the accident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
He also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Mabaya said the national department was in touch with the provincial department and had requested a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
”We want to know whether the vehicle was roadworthy, know if the driver was fit to drive and also establish factors that might have contributed to the accident,” he said.
ANC spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu called on the officials at the Department of Transport to conduct an urgent investigation into the accident.
”We regard this incident as a real tragedy.
”The ANC conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” he said. — Sapa