Truck crashes into government SUV, deputy minister is stable

27 February 2016 - 14:57 By Thulani Gqirana
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Obed Bapela in Johannesburg, South Africa on March 19, 2012.
Obed Bapela in Johannesburg, South Africa on March 19, 2012.
Image: Gallo Images / The Times / Lauren Mulligan

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Obed Bapela is in a stable condition after he was involved in an accident, his spokesperson said on Saturday.

The deputy minister and his driver were injured in a crash between a truck and his SUV on the N12 near Fochville in Gauteng on Friday evening.

Spokesperson Tsakane Baloyi confirmed that the minister was involved in the car crash while travelling as part of a convoy which included several law enforcement vehicles.

"He is out of danger, the minister is stable," Baloyi said.

The driver was also in a stable condition recovering in hospital, the spokesperson said.

The accident happened when a truck allegedly veered into their lane, ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said on Friday.

"The driver of the SUV explained that he swerved in order to avoid a head-on collision and the truck collided with the side of the SUV sending it off the road into... veld next to the road," Vermaak said. 

"The impact ripped one of the SUV's rear doors off."

It is believed that the driver of the truck was questioned at the scene.

Source: News24

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