South Africa: Fatal crash highlights poor farm transport

The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions has said it is “shocked and angered” by the deaths of 21 farm workers in an accident involving a train and a truck.

The accident happened in Mpumalanga province on July 13, 2012 when a truck transporting 45 workers to an orange farm failed to stop at a railway crossing and collided with a train.

19 workers died on the spot, 2 more died on their way to hospital with 24 others seriously injured.

COSATU has demanded that the Provincial government investigate why 45 workers were transported on an open truck instead of being provided with safe transport.