Latest news with #Vryheid
The Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
'Prisoners get three meals a day while youth go to bed on empty stomachs': Malema
EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised the government for prioritising prisoners' welfare over that of young people struggling with unemployment and poverty. Speaking at a mass funeral service in Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal for seven of the 10 party members who died in a bus crash near Ulundi on Monday night, Malema highlighted the disparity between government spending on prisoners vs support for young people. Malema said their deaths were a painful reminder that young black people in the country were not prioritised. 'Almost one in every two young people is without work,' he said. 'They wake up every morning with no salary, no opportunity and no dignity. They stand on street corners with degrees and diplomas while others are even denied the chance to study because this government has failed to deliver free, quality, decolonised education and promises made on stages but forgotten in boardrooms. 'Meanwhile we live in a country where prisoners receive three meals a day, have access to free uniforms and are offered education and rehabilitation programmes while young people go to bed on an empty stomach, wear torn clothes and are forced to drop out of school because they cannot afford registration fees.' The youth unemployment rate in South Africa increased to 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025, with millions of young people aged 15 to 34 without work.
The Herald
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Malema vows to build houses for families of KZN bus crash victims
EFF leader Julius Malema has committed to building houses and boreholes for the families of 10 party members who died in a bus crash last week while returning from a Youth Day rally in Durban. Malema addressed the mass funeral service in Vryheid on Sunday. 'We are going to honour these 10 fallen heroes, each one of them with a house that has all the facilities,' he said. 'If there's no water in those yards, we'll make sure we put [in] boreholes so we restore the dignity of those families. We will build those houses and put [in] those boreholes because we want to build a permanent relationship with these families. We don't want to forget you and don't forget us.' He assured the families they are not alone. 'Your loss is our loss. Your tears are our tears. Your children are not forgotten. The EFF will walk with you, we will support you and we will continue to fight in their name. 'As the EFF, we say their death must not be in vain. Their passing must become a turning point. We must honour them not only with flowers and words but with action. We must fix our roads, regulate the transport industry and demand accountability.' The accident happened on June 17 when the group was returning from the rally. A bus carrying EFF supporters collided with a truck on the R34 near Vryheid. Malema described the members who died as 'soldiers', drawing a parallel to the youth of 1976 who died for freedom. 'These are not just names in headlines or numbers in a report. These were young people who had dreams. They were full of life, full of promise and full of courage that defines the children of working-class and oppressed families. They died while in pursuit of life. They were travelling with hope in their hearts, but the journey that should've taken them towards opportunity ended in tragedy.' He said their parents should be proud that their children did not die from drug or alcohol abuse but on the 'battlefield'. 'Your children are soldiers; they are martyrs and the names of your children will be called when the names of the martyrs are called. Be proud that your children have inspired many generations to come.' TimesLIVE
News24
17-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
‘They died in the line of duty': EFF on 12 members killed in KZN bus crash
SUPPLIED MEC says they had been informed that dismembered body parts of some victims were still missing. The truck and bus drivers survived and were also taken to hospitals. EFF said the deceased lost their lives following a show of support for the revolution they belonged to. The EFF has confirmed that the bus that killed 12 people in a tragic accident in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday morning was carrying its members. The deadly accident which according to the KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements left ten other passengers seriously injured and 22 slightly injured - happened just after midnight, when the bus collided head-on with a truck on the R34 near Vryheid. The party said it was saddened by the tragic passing of those who lost their lives in the devastating accident. EFF said in a statement: The EFF has confirmed that the transportation was taking members home from our June 16 Rally in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. The EFF sends it deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who have lost their lives. EFF These fighters, the party said, lost their lives following a show of support for the revolution they belonged to, and they must be remembered as heroes to whom we owe a great debt. The party said: These were committed Fighters, who had attended the rally to honour the courage of the youth of 1976 and to continue the struggle for economic freedom. They died in the line of duty, and their lives will never be forgotten… We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and pray for healing to those injured. We will continue to honour the memory of the fallen with action and commitment to the struggle they believed in. Many more have been injured and are receiving medical attention, the party said, and that the process of identifying the deceased was ongoing. The party said it was working with relevant authorities to ensure families are informed and supported. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said he would get an updated report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate as well as the SA Police Service. He said his department had been informed that dismembered body parts of some victims were still missing and that the number of fatalities would either decrease or increase Duma added that some victims were taken to local hospitals and that they were making all efforts to reach out to family members. The truck and bus drivers survived and were also taken to hospitals.
The Herald
17-06-2025
- The Herald
Dozen fatalities in KZN road crash after political party rally
A total of 12 people died in a sideswipe crash involving a truck and a bus transporting political party supporters on the R34 near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday night. Provincial transport and human settlements MEC Siboniso Duma received a report shortly after midnight informing him 10 passengers on the bus had been killed. At 5am the death toll rose to 12, he said on Tuesday morning. He said based on a preliminary accident report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), after a head-on collision the truck struck the side of the bus. "It is reported 10 passengers are seriously injured and are being taken to hospitals, 22 passengers are slightly injured and six passengers were not injured." The truck and bus drivers survived and were taken to hospital. "The road has been closed to enable emergency services to provide care to the surviving passengers. At 2am, the scene is active, and we request motorists on the R34 Vryheid to be patient. "We have agreed with the RTI team that we will work with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the police as part of a comprehensive investigation." TimesLIVE
News24
17-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
KZN crash between bus, truck claims 12 lives
Ten people died in a collision between a bus and a truck on the R34 road in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, and two more died in hospital. According to Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma, the accident occurred between a truck and a bus. 'Importantly, we are establishing facts around reports that the bus was transporting supporters of a political party,' Duma added. He said it appeared the truck struck the side of the bus. Ten people were killed at the scene, and 10 passengers were seriously injured and taken to various hospitals. Another two people died later. Duma added that 22 other passengers were slightly injured, and six were unharmed. 'The road has been closed to enable emergency services to provide quality care to the surviving passengers,' he said. 'We have agreed with the RTI team that we will work with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Service as part of a comprehensive investigation.' In March, four IFP supporters were rushed to hospital after a bus accident on the same road. The supporters were on their way to the IFP's 50th anniversary celebration rally in Ulundi. Reports indicated that in that accident, the bus driver was allegedly speeding and failed to navigate a stop sign at a T-junction, causing it to overturn.
