Swazi Observer

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HORROR TRUCK ACCIDENT AT BORDER

By MELISA MSWELI | 2025-01-27

A truck rammed into 16 vehicles and three buildings at the Ngwenya Border Post after the driver lost control of it yesterday morning.

Four people, including the truck driver, were rushed to Mbabane Government Hospital following the accident that happened around 10am on the SA side of the border (Oshoek).

The truck driver lost control of the truck while descending the N17 hill leading to the border. He drove the truck straight down and along the way, hit a private car with Eswatini registration. The truck also ramped into 15 parked cars, belonging to people who were making their way into the country and officers working at the border.

An eye-witness narrated that the truck’s hooter sent the people who were along the aisle where the truck was going to pass running helter-skelter.

The people, in particular, customs officers, ran for their lives including those who were inside the offices. The witness stated that they all heard the loud bangs repeatedly and went to inspect, only to find that the truck was ramping into cars and buildings.

It was said that some of those who got injured were trying to run flee and they ended up falling, including the parking assistant officer who was among the four that were injured.

The scene was immediately crowded by people who watched in shock as owners of the cars counted their losses, police attended to the accident and the emergency services personnel gave the affected people first aid.

destroyed
The forensic department took over the scene and recorded statements while others were taking measurements. Three guard houses were also affected with one damaged after the truck hit it head-on. The others were partially hit. There was coal all over the place and vehicles could not move.

Immediately after the accident, operations at the border were suspended and the officials held a meeting.

Operations were suspended on both sides of the border even though it was only one side that was affected. Some of the customs officers shared that they were traumatised by the accident. They wondered if theywould be able to work after what they experienced.

The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) officers were spotted at the border trying to control traffic by allowing cars to park while services were suspended.

The queue became longer as more people waited with the hope that services would resume shortly.

This is the second accident involving a truck to happen at Oshoek Border in just over a month. The last accident happened on December 22, 2024 resulting in the hospitalisation of 10 people.
Ministry of Home Affairs Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini advised that members of the public use alternative routes to get to South Africa. This included Sicunusa, Lundzi, Mananga and Matsamo borders.

Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the accident. She said the police were controlling traffic from the Eswatini side of the border. She said they were not directly involved though as the accident happened on the South African side.

Commuters express their frustrations

Commuters who were headed to South Africa expressed their frustration on why the Eswatini side was closed as it was not affected.

The commuters who were in long queues were questioning why they were frustrated as they would be able to pass through. Some shared that they were going to Johannesburg adding that they would still need to their final destination.

Alternative borders were not an option for them as comment to their would be an expense they did not budget for.

They said they only had enough money for the journey through the Ngwenya Border Post hence they were going to wait until the border opened.

Some said the border personnel was traumatised by the incident and needed to calm down.
The main reason for the border to suspend operations, it was said, was because the management was in a meeting to discuss a way forward after the accident.

Among the commuters who were affected were four tourists who were in the country for the weekend.

They said they were supposed to catch a flight in Johannesburg to their country. They asked for an alternative route to Johannesburg, stating that they only had a map and no GPRS as their phones were not connected to the local networks.

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