Bushbuckridge -
Two teenagers died in hospital after their bakkie overturned in Bushbuckridge, bringing the death toll from Monday's accident to seven, the Mpumalanga community safety department said.
“Two more people died in hospital on Tuesday, bringing the total number of fatalities in Monday's accident to seven,” spokesman Joseph Mabuza said on Wednesday.
“The 16-year-old driver is amongst those who died.”
A Nissan Navara, being driven by a boy initially thought to be 14-years-old, overturned at New Forest, between Thulamahashe and Dwarsloop, at 11.40pm on Monday. Six people were seriously injured.
Community safety and liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe on Tuesday called for the bakkie's owner to be arrested “as accidents such as these could be avoided by not allowing youngsters to access vehicles”.
However, Mabuza confirmed on Wednesday that the teenager's parents reported the vehicle stolen on Tuesday.
“As a department we will not be opening a case, but the police would continue with their investigations.”
The victims were still being identified. - Sapa