Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Authorities in South Africa have revealed that the bus that got involved in an accident that killed one person and left 11 others injured in Musina on Wednesday was travelling from KwaZulu Natal to Malawi.
The accident occurred at around 1:30 am, approximately four kilometres south of the Beitbridge Border Post near Musina.
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’s Department of Transport and Community Safety Ms Mashudu Mabata said the driver was pronounced 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,” said Ms Mabata.
“The road remains open, but motorists are warned of possible temporary closures while forensic investigators work. Delays are expected along the route.”
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 said further updates would be provided in due course.
The N1 highway in South Africa is fast becoming a death trap for travellers following the death of many travellers from Sadc in accidents involving cross-border buses or private vehicles.
It is understood that the N1 is a major commercial road linking South Africa with its northern neighbours, among them Zimbabwe, Zambia, DRC, Malawi, Angola and Tanzania.
