Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
A TRAGIC bus crash on the N1 near Louis Trichardt in Limpopo, South Africa, has claimed at least 42 lives, with reports indicating several Zimbabweans among the dead.
The cross-border bus, which was travelling from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Harare, plunged down an embankment and landed on its roof on Sunday evening, leaving a trail of mangled wreckage and grief.
According to South African media reports, the bus was carrying mostly Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals when disaster struck near Ingwe Lodge, outside Makhado. At least 30 passengers were hospitalised with serious injuries.
Early reports suggest the driver lost control of the vehicle on a sharp curve along the mountainous stretch of the busy highway. The N1 is a key commercial route linking South Africa with Sadc countries north of the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers.
Limpopo’s Department of Transport and Community Safety confirmed the horror smash, saying MEC Violet Mathye had rushed to the scene.
“A major accident involving a bus has occurred on the N1 road, and the road has been closed. We encourage travellers to use alternative routes. Our thoughts are with those affected by this accident,” said the department in a statement.
Unconfirmed reports suggest at least five Zimbabweans are among the victims, though authorities are yet to release the nationalities of all those killed.
Police and emergency teams worked through the night to retrieve bodies and rescue survivors from the wreckage. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.
This is a developing story as authorities continue to piece together the events that led to one of the deadliest road disasters on the N1 in recent memory.
