Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya/ Trust Freddy, Zimpapers Reporters
THE death toll of the people who died in a bus accident carrying Malawians and Zimbabweans when the driver of DNC Coaches lost control on Sunday has risen from 42 to 43 after another passenger succumbed to the injuries on Monday evening.
The Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa with the support of the host Government, is already working on the processes of identifying the victims of the bus accident.
A total of 43 people died while 49 were injured when the DNC bus travelling from Port Elizabeth plunged into an embankment near Makhado town, some 100km from the busy Beitbridge border post along the N1 highway.
The Government has mobilised immediate logistical support for affected families by arranging free transport to ferry them to Polokwane, South Africa, to identify the remains of their relatives.
Buses are scheduled to depart at midday today from the National Disaster Management Centre at Makombe Building in Harare.
The swift action comes after President Mnangagwa on Monday declared the accident a State of Disaster and ordered State-assisted funerals for the victims.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, yesterday, urged relatives of the deceased to come forward and assist in the identification process.
“In this regard, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and other Government entities, is calling upon relatives of the deceased to come forward and assist in the identification process,” he said in a statement.
“Buses to ferry the next of kin from Harare to Polokwane have been arranged and scheduled to depart from the National Disaster Management Centre at Makombe Building (Harare) on October 15, 2025, at noon.”
Garwe also confirmed the repatriation process will commence immediately after the identification of the deceased.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa has since declared a State of Disaster and directed the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, through the Department of Civil Protection to provide State-assisted burials as well as payment of medical bills for the injured following the DNC Coach road accident in Makhado, Limpopo Province, South Africa.”
President Mnangagwa and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday extended condolences to families that lost their relatives in the accident on Sunday.
The accident claimed 43 people, among them Zimbabweans and Malawians, in South Africa’s Limpopo Province.
Limpopo Premier (Dr Phophi Ramathuba) spokesperson, Mr Thilivhali Muavha, confirmed the number of those who died is now 43, up from the initial 42.
“In addition, the identification process of the deceased is underway,” he said.
Ministry of Transport spokesperson Mr Collen Msibi said stakeholders were still busy on the ground and that they were still waiting for the completion of a preliminary report regarding the accident.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Pretoria, Mr David Hamadziripi, visited the accident scene and the injured in Makhado Town along with his counterpart from Malawi, Ms Stella Chiripo Ndau, South Africa’s Transport Minister, Ms Barbara Creecy, her deputy, Mr Mkhuleko Hhlengwe and Limpopo Premier Dr Ramathuba.
He said on Tuesday, nine people who had minor injuries, among them three Zimbabweans, were treated and discharged at a hospital in Makhado.
“We have visited the area and we are saddened by this development where we continue to lose travellers locally and cross-borders along the same road and involving public transport,” said Ambassador Hamadziripi.
“In line with the Call to Action by our President, the embassy, through the Consulate in Johannesburg, has already deployed a team to offer consular and compassionate services to the bereaved families.
“We are going to be handling the whole repatriation process with the support of our host Government at the provincial and national level. So far, we are happy with the cooperation we are getting.”
The Ambassador said preliminary reports are that the bus left Port Elizabeth with 69 passengers and picked up some along the way who were not entered into the passenger manifest.
He said the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) was already on the ground conducting investigations.
“We have not been able to segregate the actual number of Zimbabweans who died because of the mix-up in the passenger manifest. So, a team of forensic experts, relatives and our staff is on the ground to identify the bodies. We will communicate once we make progress,” said Amb Hamadziripi.
“At the same time, we urge public transport operators on cross-border routes to always abide by the road rules and regulations to avoid the unnecessary loss of lives.”
President Mnangagwa has since called for the harmonisation of road traffic regulations enforcement within the Sadc region and collaborations to curb the recurrence of fatal road accidents involving public transport.
