A tragic accident has resulted in the death of nine individuals who were returning from an election rally of the African National Congress (ANC), spearheaded by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The incident took place early Sunday, February 25, 2024, as they were journeying back to their homes in the Mpumalanga province in eastern South Africa, from the rally site in Durban.
The deceased were part of a crowd that had gathered for the ANC’s manifesto unveiling at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. This event is important in drumming up support for the national election scheduled for May 29. The upcoming election poses a significant challenge for the ANC, which has been in power in South Africa for nearly three decades since 1994 when apartheid ended. Present opinion polls indicate a possible loss of majority for the party for the first time.
The bus, filled with approximately 70 ANC supporters, swerved off the road and flipped near Paulpietersburg, approximately 223 miles north of Durban. The accident led to nine deaths and 17 injuries, with several victims in a critical medical state.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene of the accident, and ANC officials from the province paid visits to both the crash site and the hospitals where the injured were receiving treatment. The ANC has voiced its profound regret over the incident and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
Local law enforcement is currently investigating the cause of the accident. This is not the first accident involving ANC supporters; in January, six people died in a similar incident while traveling to an anniversary celebration in the Mpumalanga province.
President Ramaphosa’s election campaign, which promises to tackle unemployment and eliminate power outages, was well-received by many at the rally. However, the party is facing significant hurdles, including public dissatisfaction due to high unemployment and a slow-moving economy.
In preparation for the election, the ANC had arranged transportation for attendees from different parts of the country, a common practice in South African politics. Unfortunately, the return trip proved deadly for some.
As the investigation into the cause of the accident continues, the primary focus remains on providing support to the injured and the families grieving their lost loved ones.
