Durban - KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala has expressed his condolences to the families of six Zulu maidens who were killed in a crash on Saturday.
The six girls were on their way from a preparatory event, in the lead-up to the annual Reed Dance festival taking place in Nongoma next month.
Nine others were injured in the crash. The vehicle that the group was travelling in, caught alight on impact.
“We have lost six young lives who had just attended one of our very important cultural ceremonies. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased during this difficult time and we wish all those injured a speedy recovery,” Zikalala said.
The Premier said Arts and Culture and Social Development MECs had dispatched their department’s senior officials to visit the affected families.
“Our officials will work closely with the affected families to ensure that they receive all the necessary support including professional counselling," he said.
MEC Arts and Culture, Hlengiwe Mvimbela, also expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased.
"We are saddened by the incident where we lost six innocent lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time. Officials from the department have been at the scene since the accident happened and have been working with police to help identify victims and notify families," she said.
MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, said he was deeply saddened to hear about the girls' deaths.