NINE people died and 33 were injured in a horror bus crash in the Eastern Cape at the weekend. The bus overturned at Dimbaza, 20km from King William Town, on Saturday following a tyre burst. Police spokesman captain Thozama Solani said: The bus was on its way from Keiskammahoek to King William Town carrying 42 people when a tyre burst. It rolled off a bridge and nine passengers died.

We are investigating whether the vehicle was roadworthy, Solani said. Six women and three men, aged between 45 and 65, died at the scene. The other 33 passengers were taken to Grey Hospital. Ten of the injured are in a critical condition. Families will identify the bodies at 2pm today. We are only certain of the identity of one of the deceased Solani said.

Bus owner Arron Bido offered his condolences to the families of those killed. I am in communication with the police to find the cause of this unfortunate accident. Our buses undergo regular roadworthy checks.Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said his department would investigate the cause of the accident. He appealed to public transport operators to exercise extreme caution as we cannot continue putting the lives of innocent commuters at risk.