Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
LIMPOPO Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba is today expected to visit the horror crash scene along the N1 near Makhado, where 42 people — mostly Zimbabweans and Malawians — perished on Sunday night.
The ill-fated bus, travelling from Gqeberha to Harare, veered off the mountainous stretch of the N1 north near Louis Trichardt and plunged down an embankment, killing dozens and injuring more than 30.
Provincial spokesperson Thilivhali Muavha said Dr Ramathuba will meet the multi-disciplinary rescue team at 11am before addressing the media from the crash site. She will also visit hospitals where the injured are receiving treatment.
“The Premier will get updates from officials who have been attending to the scene and later visit survivors in hospitals,” said Muavha.
He added that the bus was ferrying passengers from Zimbabwe and Malawi returning home from the Eastern Cape when tragedy struck.
“Emergency services, including paramedics, transport officers and law enforcement officials, responded swiftly to the scene. Rescue operations continued late into the night, with several injured passengers transported to nearby hospitals,” said Muavha.
Investigations by the South African Police Service and traffic authorities are ongoing to establish the cause of the crash.
Muavha said the Limpopo Provincial Government is working closely with the Departments of Transport, Health, and Disaster Management to coordinate assistance, while psychosocial support is being offered to survivors. Consular officials from Zimbabwe and Malawi have also been engaged to assist families of the deceased.
Ramathuba described the tragedy as “heartbreaking.”
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy. Losing so many lives in one incident is painful beyond words. On behalf of the Limpopo Provincial Government, we extend our deepest condolences to the affected families in Zimbabwe and Malawi. We wish a full and speedy recovery to all survivors,” she said.
Officials from DNC Bus Company in Port Elizabeth also confirmed that senior executives were on their way to the scene to assist victims and families affected by the devastating crash.
