12 killed, 45 injured after bus overturns in South Africa

At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province.

Andile Mngwevu, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport in Ekurhuleni City, confirmed that the accident occurred on a highway in Ekurhuleni City, near Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, at around 6:45 a.m. local time (0445 GMT).

Mngwevu reported that 12 people died at the scene, and the 45 injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals. “Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, and our prayers for a speedy recovery to those who have been taken to various hospitals around the area,” Mngwevu said. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, and it has yet to be confirmed whether other vehicles were involved.

Ekurhuleni City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini told Xinhua that the bus involved in the accident was travelling from Katlehong to Kempton Park. “We are still at the scene, and we are in the process of removing the bodies,” he noted.

This photo, taken with a mobile phone, shows staff members cleaning the site of a bus accident in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after the bus overturned in the region. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo, taken with a mobile phone, shows the site of the bus accident in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in the region. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo, taken with a mobile phone, shows the site of a bus accident in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo, taken with a mobile phone, shows the site of the bus accident in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after the bus overturned in the region. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo, taken with a mobile phone, shows staff members cleaning the site of a bus accident in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after the bus overturned in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo, taken with a mobile phone, shows the site of a bus accident in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa’s northeastern Gauteng Province.