Cape Town - At least eight people – all of them prison staff – were killed and two others critically injured in a crash involving three vehicles, including a Correctional Services minibus taxi carrying its staff, on Tuesday morning.
The taxi was transporting the staff to work at the Buffelsjagrivier Correctional Centre, according to Western Cape regional commissioner Delekile Klaas.
“It is with great sadness and shock that we have learnt of the passing of eight of our officials while they were going to their work stations. Buffelsjagrivier is quite a small centre, and losing these officials is a serious setback.”
It won’t affect day-to-day running, as extra support has been provided, he added.
“The officials were travelling in a 10-seater vehicle and the sole surviving officer was sent to hospital in Swellendam. Normally when we have officials that don’t have transport, we will provide transport as part of our policy; it is also for safety reasons.”
Klaas said he was not able to provide the names of the officials and travelled to see families shortly after providing details to media at a briefing at Pollsmoor Prison.
“As a department, we will do everything in our power to assist where we can. Details of memorial and funeral services will be announced at a later stage.”.
Provincial traffic spokesman Kenny Africa said the minibus had collided with a Ford bakkie and a truck about 4km outside Swellendam. The N2 was closed in both directions, at Appelbos, due to the accident.
“The road is totally closed and will be reopened once police and forensic pathology have finished with their investigation,” he said.
The crash happened on the N2 near Swellendam just after 7am, but one passenger remained trapped in wreckage at 8am, according to EMS spokesman Robert Daniels.
“Eight people were fortunate enough to walk away with only minor injuries,” he added.
Cape Argus