Online ReporterThupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Authorities in South Africa have revealed that the bus involved in an accident that killed one person and injured 11 others near Musina on Wednesday was transporting Malawian nationals being repatriated from South Africa.
The accident occurred at around 1:30am, approximately four kilometres south of the Beitbridge Border Post near Musina along the N1 highway.
According to preliminary reports, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle due to fatigue, causing the bus to overturn.
“The Kalamazoo bus was transporting Malawians being repatriated by their Government from South Africa when tragedy struck. The injured are still being attended to at Musina Hospital,” said an official from South Africa.
In an earlier media statement, Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety spokesperson Ms Mashudu Mabata said the driver was declared dead at the scene while the injured passengers were rushed to Musina Hospital for treatment.
She said the bus was 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,” said Ms Mabata.
She urged motorists travelling along the N1 to reduce speed, maintain a safe following distance and obey instructions from officials at the scene.
Ms Mabata said investigations into the cause of the accident are continuing and authorities would provide further updates in due course.
The N1 highway in South Africa has recorded a number of fatal accidents involving cross-border buses and private vehicles travelling between South Africa and neighbouring countries.
The highway is a major regional transport corridor linking South Africa with countries to the north, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Tanzania.
