Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
BEITBRIDGE Border Post turned into a scene of tragedy over the weekend as two men collapsed and died in separate incidents while undergoing border formalities.
The first victim was a 48-year-old South African truck driver ferrying peas from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He collapsed and died on Saturday around 4pm shortly after getting his passport stamped at the southbound truck export yard.
According to Beitbridge District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube, the driver had returned to his truck when he suddenly collapsed. Investigations revealed he had complained of feeling unwell in his work WhatsApp group the day before.
In the second case, tragedy struck on Friday when a diabetic passenger from Murehwa died during a customs inspection. The man was travelling with his 21-year-old son on a Best Express Logistics bus from Pretoria and reportedly showed visible signs of illness during the journey.
Chief Supt Ncube said the bus had been recalled to the border for reassessment after being stopped at a checkpoint near Masvingo. During the customs process, the son noticed his father was unresponsive. Port health officials were called, but it was too late. The man was declared dead on the spot and his body was transferred to the Beitbridge District Mortuary.
Both deaths are being treated as sudden and police are working to notify the families. Post-mortems are expected to be conducted.
