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Earlier today, a school bus carrying students to a sports event, believed to be a rugby match, collided with a minibus carrying passengers from Cape Town to Mthatha, killing at least 18 and injuring 31. The two buses collided on the R61 between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape.

Although the cause of the accident is still unknown, it is reported that it was a head-on-collision.

The injured were transported to different hospitals in and around the area. All were initially taken to Cradock Hospital for treatment, after which eight were transferred to Port Elizabeth, East London and Bloemfontein hospitals respectively.

Representatives from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) will be accompanying the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Sindiswe Chikunga, and the Eastern Cape MEC, Thandiswa Marawu, to the bereaved families, as well as the injured later tonight and tomorrow.

In addition, the RAF will assist the families with burial costs and the origination of claims.

Says Dr Eugene Watson, Chief Executive Officer of the RAF: “We wish to express our sincere condolences to those families who have lost loved ones in this horrific crash. No words of consolation can possibly ease the pain and suffering these families must be feeling during this time of bereavement. We wish the injured a speedy recovery. As a caring organisation, our representatives will do their utmost to assist all of those who have been impacted by this highly unfortunate incident.”