Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for arts, culture and tourism Weziwe Thusi narrowly escaped death when the vehicle she was travelling in crashed into another vehicle at Empangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast on Friday night.

Thusi suffered injuries to her arm and head but is in a stable condition at Durban's Chief Albert Luthuli hospital.

Thusi was on her way back from Mtubatuba where she opened a new library when her car collided with a bakkie. The driver of the bakkie died in the crash.

Chris Botha, Netcare 911 spokesperson, said Thusi was travelling with her driver and bodyguard. "They had suffered head injuries and she had a fractured arm."

He said Thusi's driver was in a stable condition at the same hospital. The bodyguard had sustained minor injuries.

"They were first transported to an Empangeni clinic and have since been moved to Albert Luthuli Hospital," he said.

Police spokesman Phindile Hadebe said the accident happened on the province's busy N2 between Empangeni and Durban. "The Corsa bakkie was trying to overtake another car, not realising that the MEC's car was following closely behind. The bakkie collided with the MEC's car and both vehicles rolled and landed on the side of the road," she said.

Ncumisa Fandesi, spokesman for the department, said the MEC was recovering well.