Hlengwa calls for thorough probe into Mother’s Day crash that claimed 9 churchgoers’ lives

JOHANNESBURG - Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa has called for a thorough probe into the Mother's Day crash that claimed the lives of nine churchgoers in KwaZulu-Natal.

A vehicle transporting 24 passengers was hit by a tow truck on the N2 in Empangeni more than a week ago whilst returning from a church service.

ALSO READ: 9 churchgoers who died in crash on Mother's Day to be laid to rest on Sunday

Seven women and two men, aged between 24 and 57, were among the victims of the devastating crash.

Eight of the nine congregants were laid to rest in a mass funeral on Sunday.

Hlengwa and KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma were among the mourners.

While addressing a packed tent, Hlengwa raised concerns about driver fatigue, which he believes is among the leading causes of road crashes.

“The law enforcement operations in the country will ensure a fully-fledged prosecutorial process into this matter, into the driver of the breakdown vehicle, and into the driver of the Hyundai vehicle. Where negligence is to be apportioned, it is my expectation that it must be done so.”