The death toll in Wednesday morning's bus crash in KwaZulu-Natal has risen to 29, police said.
The passengers, including five children, were killed when a Greenboy Transport bus travelling from Rustenburg to Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape overturned and careered about 70 metres down an embankment on the R56 road between Kokstad and Franklin early on Wednesday.
Provincial transport officials said 59 other passengers were injured, five critically.
KwaZulu-Natal traffic official Colin Govender told reporters the driver was critically injured and that a docket of culpable homicide had been opened.
The cause of the accident is not known. Emergency personnel were still on the accident scene at noon.
KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC S'bu Ndebele expressed distress over the accident, saying that bus and taxi operators should not play with the lives of innocent passengers.
Two days before the crash the MEC called on bus and taxi operators to ensure that drivers were not overworked and were given enough rest to prevent driver fatigue.
"We are going to be taking stern action against the offending operators. This is not just negligence, it is multiple murder," Ndebele said on Wednesday.
The Inkatha Freedom Party also expressed its condolences to the bus accident victims and their families. Provincial IFP transport spokesman Mandla Malakoano commended emergency services for splendid work in rescuing the survivors.
He reminded drivers they had to be extra careful during the Easter holiday season. - Sapa