Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A bus ferrying migrants from South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal to Beitbridge overturned along the N1 highway early on Wednesday morning, killing the driver and injuring 11 passengers, the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety has confirmed.
The accident occurred at around 1:30am, approximately four kilometres south of the Beitbridge Border Post near Musina.
According to preliminary reports, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle due to fatigue, causing the bus to overturn.
In a statement, the department said the driver was declared dead at the scene while the injured passengers were rushed to Musina Hospital for treatment.
The nationalities of the injured passengers had not yet been established by the time of going to print.
The bus was reportedly transporting migrants from KwaZulu-Natal to Musina as part of the ongoing movement of foreign nationals leaving South Africa amid rising anti-migrant tensions in some parts of the country.
Both the Malawi and Zimbabwe Governments are currently facilitating the evacuation and repatriation of some of their nationals from KwaZulu-Natal and other parts of South Africa.
“Emergency services, police and traffic officials are on the scene managing traffic and assisting the injured. The road remains open, but motorists are warned of possible temporary closures while forensic investigators work. Delays are expected along the route,” reads part of the statement.
The department urged motorists travelling along the N1 to reduce speed, maintain a safe following distance and obey instructions from officials at the scene.
Investigations into the cause of the accident are continuing and authorities said further updates would be provided in due course.
