CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 5 (UPI) -- A crowded bus that wasn't supposed to be in service overturned in western South Africa Wednesday, killing 23 people, including four children, officials said.
Police said the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle as it was traveling to Cape Town, The (Johannesburg) Times reported.
Jo Lennox, the Western Cape community safety minister, said the bus was carrying 77 people, but only had a rated capacity of 64.
"The bus wasn't roadworthy and was suspended from transporting passengers," he said.
Community Safety Department spokesman Xenophone Wetzel said 19 people died at the scene and four died en route to hospitals.
At least 15 people, including the bus driver, were seriously injured, he said.
The spokesman said the bus was owned by a private company, The Times said.
"We have just discovered in the system that it was not supposed to be operating as it had been suspended by the Eastern Cape traffic department because it was unroadworthy," Wentzel said.
Police officials said they were investigating whether a case of culpable homicide could be made against the driver.
