Six die on Eastern Cape roads, bus accident partly closes N2

Six people died in three separate accidents on Eastern Cape roads at the weekend.

The driver of an Eldo Coaches bus died after the bus overturned on the N2 near Sugarbush, Mt Ayliff, on Saturday night at 11pm.

Provincial transport spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said 25 passengers had escaped unscathed.

The bus was travelling from Durban to Cape Town.

Rantjie said the injured co-driver had been taken to Mt Ayliff Hospital.

The N2 was closed to heavy-duty vehicles from 9am on Sunday.

“The road will remain closed for heavy-duty vehicles for about eight hours while recovery teams are on the scene. We are rerouting all heavy-duty vehicles to the R66 through Mthatha or the R394 through Port St Johns. Light vehicles can still use the N2 but there will be delays,” Rantjie said.

Four people died on the N2 near Mt Frere on Saturday evening.

“At about 6pm on Saturday evening a Toyota Avanza overturned and four males were killed,” Rantjie said.

On Sunday morning a driver was killed on Schafli Road on the East Coast.

“At about 7.25am on Sunday the driver of a Ford Ranger allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to go off the road. The driver died on the scene,” Rantjie said.

She said weekend fatalities were increasing.

“It was month-end and we’re also entering into the festive season so excitement is growing and people are not taking extra care on the roads.

“Speeding, fatigue and drinking and driving become more prevalent over this time,” Rantjie said.

MadeleineC@dispatch.co.za