JOHANNESBURG, Sep. 17 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-one people, including 19 school pupils, were killed in a traffic accident in northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, according to the country's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on Saturday morning.
The accident involving a truck and a bakkie occurred Friday afternoon when the truck attempted to overtake another truck and ended up colliding head on with the bakkie which was carrying the school children, younger than 12, on their way home from school.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka said the department was saddened by the accident, saying they had received an update from the police. "It was a head on collision and there were some entrapment in the bakkie. We are of the firm view that such accidents are as results of driver behavior."
The Premier's office of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government said in a statement: "We wish to assure the citizens and all affected families that the government is working with all stakeholders to ensure that the cause of this traumatising accident is investigated and concluded speedily." ■