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ZCC members from South Africa travelled to and from the conference via Beitbridge.
They were travelling in a convoy of 537 buses. Reports from South Africa indicate that the bus driver lost control near Rietkolk River. The bus hit the bridge and plunged into the river.
Polokwane police spokesman Captain Mohlakha Moshiyane confirmed the accident yesterday and said investigations were underway. He said they had since charged the driver with culpable homicide.
Names of the victims are being withheld until their relatives have been informed.
Police confirmed that the victims were all South Africans.
“Apparently the bus was coming from Zimbabwe, where the members of the congregation had just attended an annual conference.”
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“Eight passengers died on the spot while the ninth, a 40-year-old woman, was pronounced dead on admission at Polokwane Provincial Hospital.”
“Another 46 passengers, who were seriously injured, were rushed to different hospitals in the province, Capt Moshiyane said.
He said they were yet to establish the total number of people who had been on the bus. Meanwhile, another bus was involved in an accident at the same spot killing one person.
“It is unfortunate that at around 4:30am another bus coming from the same conference and heading towards Johannesburg was involved in a fatal accident at the same spot.
“Investigations so far reveal that the bus crashed into a Nissan Sentra which had been travelling in the opposite direction resulting in the driver of the small car dying on the spot.”
“The man has also been ferried to Polokwane provincial hospital. However all passengers on the bus escaped unhurt.
The N1 Highway which links South Africa to the rest of Africa has become a death trap for many travellers.
The road caters for both cargo and public transport.
Last year, 27 Zimbabweans were killed on the same road between Polokwane and Makhadho when four cars and a cross-border bus were involved in a pile up accident.
This year, 28 Zimbabweans have perished on the same road between Johannesburg and Musina.
Online Reporter