MEC extends message of support to injured Indigenous Games participants

MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation Bongi Sithole-Moloi has extended a message of support to about 60 young people from Umgungundlovu District who were injured in a bus accident in Durban today, 26/08.

The accident happened on the R603 near Adams Mission, south of Durban, when one of the two buses carrying the Umgungundlovu District Team on their way to the Provincial Indigenous Games (IGs) in Margate on the KZN south coast, overturned. The Games are taking place at Ugu Sports Complex in Margate from today ending on Saturday, 27/08. They are organised by the KZN Department of Sport and Recreation in conjunction with the KwaZulu-Natal Indigenous Games Council with the support from different district municipalities in the Province. They involve players from all 11 District municipalities including eThekwini Metro.

Reports from the scene indicate that all bus occupants have been taken to four local hospitals with minor injuries.

MEC Sithole-Moloi extends her best wishes to all who have been affected by this incident.

“We have received the news of the bus accident and I wish to extend my sincere message of support to those injured and their families. We also wish a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. I have dispatched a team of senior officials from the Department, including the Head of Department to assist the injured at the various hospitals,” she said.

“I have also requested the HOD to ensure that those affected are assisted with all the necessary claims and to look into all the needs of the Umgungundlovu team and their families.

“On the sporting note, I wish the Indigenous Games and all the other participants a safe sporting weekend,” said MEC Sithole-Moloi.

The Department has organised counselling for all the victims through the Department of Social Development.