11 dead in minibus taxi-truck crash in South Africa | World News

11 people died when a minibus taxi and a truck collided in South Africa on Thursday.

According to PTI news agency, 11 people lost their lives when they got stuck in a truck and minibus taxi.

According to AP, at least 11 people died in an accident involving a minibus taxi and a truck in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/wJdH4Vse2u— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 29, 2026

At least 11 people, including a schoolchild, were killed when a minibus taxi and a truck collided in eastern KwaZulu-Natal province on Thursday, provincial transport official Siboniso Duma has confirmed through preliminary reports.

The tragedy follows a head-on collision in which 14 schoolchildren were killed in another minibus-truck collision just over a week ago.

Emergency services found several critical injuries, highlighting ongoing road safety issues in the region, India Today reported.

ALS Paramedics spokesman Garrith Jamieson reported that 11 people died at the scene and many people were seriously injured, including the minibus driver who was trapped in the wreckage.

Emergency services confirmed the collision occurred at around 7am during the morning rush hour and most victims died instantly at the scene.

Eyewitnesses reported that the minibus carrying the children tried to overtake parked vehicles and then crashed into the oncoming truck.

Police have launched a formal investigation into the fatal KwaZulu-Natal minibus-truck collision, while the truck driver is scheduled to be questioned to determine fault.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his deep sorrow and pledged national and provincial support, including psychological and emotional assistance to grieving families and schools. “Our children are the nation’s most valuable assets,” he said, via AP.

“We must do everything we can to protect students, from following road rules to vetting academic transportation providers.”

Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has expressed serious concerns about school transport safety across the country, stating that many student accidents have been attributed to driver errors. He highlighted systemic governance failings that put children in danger every day and called on the Department for Transport to tighten inspections and enforcement to make daily commutes safer.