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14 March 2025
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Deadly bus accident in Ekurhuleni claims the lives of 12 on scene, four more died in hospital
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The City of Ekurhuleni has moved swiftly to confirm details and facts concerning the tragic bus crash on the R21 Northbound, near the R24 split close to the OR Tambo International Airport, in the early hours of Tuesday, 11 March 2025. The incident, which occurred at approximately 06h32am, involved a city-owned passenger bus and an unidentified light motor vehicle. Emergency services were dispatched promptly and an Incident Command Post was established to manage the scene.
“Rescue teams within the northern operation region of the City of Ekurhuleni were activated to the R21 freeway Northbound, adjacent to OR Tambo International Airport, responding to a gruesome single vehicle accident with many victims scattered across the road surface. Kempton Park, Albertina Sisulu fire stations` rescue teams, swiftly responded to the scene for intervention and more backup resources were activated from Leon Ferreira Fire Station in Boksburg”, said William Ntladi, district manager media liaison at Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS).
“On arrival and after scene assessment, the only available choice was to close the entire freeway for safety reasons. Many other private and provincial medical emergency teams arrived for prompt patient care. Score of patients could be identified from a distance and civilians who disparately tried their utmost best to save lives”, said Ntladi.
The vehicle involved in an accident was a Municipal Bus faring passengers from Katlehong, through Germiston, destined to Birchleigh in Kempton Park. Information received on scene states that, it was on its daily scheduled route, faring working class passengers to and around Kempton Park area.
Because of scores of patients recorded on scene, triage system was established in order to manage the scene much easier and diligently so. All patients were places in accordance to their magnitude of injuries before on scene medical treatment and transportation to medical facilities.
15 of the casualties were recorded to be in critical conditions. They were given red tag stickers, treated and road transported by ambulances to hospitals. Eight others were orange sticker tagged; meaning they were in serious but stable trauma conditions. They were given pre-hospital medical treatment on scene being road transported to medical facilities as well. Nine other patients were green tagged meaning they sustained minor injuries. They were the last batched to be transported by ambulances to hospitals. 12 last patients were black sticker tagged, meaning they died on scene.
The complexity of the incident was that some of the patients had to be rescued from under the bus as it was on its side on top of them. They suffered crash injuries. Rescue teams had to use Hydraulic rescue tools and wooden chocks to support and stabilise the wreckage. All 12 bodies were later transported by forensic pathology services to Germiston facility by a fleet of vehicles.
Road Traffic Management Authority spokesperson Simon Zwane said four more passengers died in hospital, taking the death toll from 12 to 16.
From a passenger
Philasande Phakade, age 19, took the bus to work in Kempton Park, a job he started about three weeks ago. The vehicle, owned by the Ekurhuleni Municipality, was ferrying passengers from Katlehong to Kempton Park when it crashed at around 07h50 along the R21 opposite Emperors Palace. Phakade said the driver lost control when he attempted to avoid a white car that changed lanes. "The bus hit the embankment and fell to its right side. I thought I was dead. As the bus fell to its side, passengers sitting on the right side were thrown out through the windows. The bus then fell on top of them," he said.
Investigation
An investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway, led by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the SAPS. Part of the investigation involves a review of the CCTV footage of the incident captured by SANRAL.
The City can confirm that the MAN passenger bus was roadworthy, with a valid Certificate of Fitness issued on 10 February 2025. Passenger manifest reconciliation is ongoing, with final confirmation expected by the end of today, 12 March 2025.
The City of Ekurhuleni extends its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
“Rescue teams within the northern operation region of the City of Ekurhuleni were activated to the R21 freeway Northbound, adjacent to OR Tambo International Airport, responding to a gruesome single vehicle accident with many victims scattered across the road surface. Kempton Park, Albertina Sisulu fire stations` rescue teams, swiftly responded to the scene for intervention and more backup resources were activated from Leon Ferreira Fire Station in Boksburg”, said William Ntladi, district manager media liaison at Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS).
“On arrival and after scene assessment, the only available choice was to close the entire freeway for safety reasons. Many other private and provincial medical emergency teams arrived for prompt patient care. Score of patients could be identified from a distance and civilians who disparately tried their utmost best to save lives”, said Ntladi.
The vehicle involved in an accident was a Municipal Bus faring passengers from Katlehong, through Germiston, destined to Birchleigh in Kempton Park. Information received on scene states that, it was on its daily scheduled route, faring working class passengers to and around Kempton Park area.
Because of scores of patients recorded on scene, triage system was established in order to manage the scene much easier and diligently so. All patients were places in accordance to their magnitude of injuries before on scene medical treatment and transportation to medical facilities.
15 of the casualties were recorded to be in critical conditions. They were given red tag stickers, treated and road transported by ambulances to hospitals. Eight others were orange sticker tagged; meaning they were in serious but stable trauma conditions. They were given pre-hospital medical treatment on scene being road transported to medical facilities as well. Nine other patients were green tagged meaning they sustained minor injuries. They were the last batched to be transported by ambulances to hospitals. 12 last patients were black sticker tagged, meaning they died on scene.
The complexity of the incident was that some of the patients had to be rescued from under the bus as it was on its side on top of them. They suffered crash injuries. Rescue teams had to use Hydraulic rescue tools and wooden chocks to support and stabilise the wreckage. All 12 bodies were later transported by forensic pathology services to Germiston facility by a fleet of vehicles.
Road Traffic Management Authority spokesperson Simon Zwane said four more passengers died in hospital, taking the death toll from 12 to 16.
From a passenger
Philasande Phakade, age 19, took the bus to work in Kempton Park, a job he started about three weeks ago. The vehicle, owned by the Ekurhuleni Municipality, was ferrying passengers from Katlehong to Kempton Park when it crashed at around 07h50 along the R21 opposite Emperors Palace. Phakade said the driver lost control when he attempted to avoid a white car that changed lanes. "The bus hit the embankment and fell to its right side. I thought I was dead. As the bus fell to its side, passengers sitting on the right side were thrown out through the windows. The bus then fell on top of them," he said.
Investigation
An investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway, led by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the SAPS. Part of the investigation involves a review of the CCTV footage of the incident captured by SANRAL.
The City can confirm that the MAN passenger bus was roadworthy, with a valid Certificate of Fitness issued on 10 February 2025. Passenger manifest reconciliation is ongoing, with final confirmation expected by the end of today, 12 March 2025.
The City of Ekurhuleni extends its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
