Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau.
South African traffic authorities in Limpopo province have intercepted a 65‑seat cross-border bus travelling from Gauteng to Malawi overloaded with 117 passengers.
The bus was intercepted on Thursday at the N1 bypass adjacent to Peter Mokaba Stadium after officers observed a severe overload.
In a statement today, the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community safety spokesperson Mr Matome Taueatsoala said the bus was carrying one driver, 101 adult passengers and 15 minors.
“It had 52 passengers beyond its legal capacity. The bus, en route from Gauteng to Malawi, became immobilised a short distance from the Polokwane weigh‑bridge while being redirected to the Provincial Traffic Control Centre (PTCC),” he said.
“During the stop, the driver attempted to flee the scene. He was promptly intercepted, restrained and arrested by officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Limpopo Traffic Officers.
The bus will remain at the PTCC until the excess passengers are removed and the prescribed fine is settled. Further investigations are underway”.
The incident comes a few weeks after an overloaded Zimbabwean cross border bus plunged into a cliff outside Makhado causing the death of 44 people among them 36 Zimbabweans and eight Malawians.
A total of 49 passengers were injured during the incident with some still hospitalised across Limpopo province.
The bus, which was en route from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape to Harare, was also overloaded, carrying 91 passengers despite having a seating capacity of only 62.
