Vehicles, drivers fully inspected ahead of KZN Reed Dance
Provincial authorities say safety on the roads and other security measures have been the key focus for municipalities ahead of the Reed Dance.
The Umkhosi woMhlanga has kicked off today at Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's eNyokeni Palace in Nongoma.
The Department of Arts and Culture has made 75 buses available to transport maidens from across the province.
Officials say they've made sure they are all roadworthy and the drivers vetted.
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The City of uMhlathuze's Mdu Ncalne says traffic officials will accompany buses leaving Empangeni this afternoon.
"The city of uMhlathuze leadership has embarked on a program to inspect all 13 buses going to the Reed Dance. The city is taking about 600 maidens from today. After inspection, the city police will escort the buses from Empangeni to Nongoma and back on Sunday. They will be making sure that all drivers taking maidens are as sober as a judge," he says.
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In 2013, nine KZN maidens and two of their minders were killed when their bus overturned in Nkwalini while returning home from the Reed Dance.
Two years ago in Swaziland, 38 Swazi maidens died en route to the Reed Dance there after the truck they were travelling in collided with a car between Mbabane and Manzini.