44 killed in Eastern Cape road carnage

The comment comes after 44 people were killed in two separate accidents in the Eastern Cape yesterday.

Thirty-five people were killed on the R408 outside Willowvale yesterday when the bus they were travelling in drove off a cliff.

9 other people died in a separate accident on the R61 when their taxi overturned.

The minister's spokesperson, Ismail Mnisi, says both accidents are being investigated by the police.

"It is indeed a sad moment in the public transport fraternity and the Department of Transport as well as a concern for the minister to have had so many accidents in such a short period of time", he said.

"We wish to reiterate our commitment as the department and as government in reducing the number of accidents that are happening. This is done using the legislation that we are putting in place," he said.

(File photo)