52 injured as bus overturns in Free State

Johannesburg - At least 52 people were injured when the bus they were travelling in overturned near Harrismith on Saturday morning, Free State police said.

"At about 08:00 the bus's front tyre burst and it left the road into the nearby farm where it overturned and came to a halt," said Sergeant Mmako Mophiring.

"Unfortunately the driver, 35, from Tshiame near Harrismith and all [the] passengers sustained minor and serious injuries and were rushed to various hospitals with different ambulance services."

The Maluti bus was transporting 31 school pupils to their weekend classes at New Horizon School in Harrismith.

The rest of the passengers were adult commuters.

Police were investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving, said Mophiring.