A tragic bus accident on the N1 highway near Makhado, in South Africa’s Limpopo province, has claimed the lives of 10 Zimbabwean nationals. The victims, five men and five women, were passengers on an Mzansi Express bus traveling from Bulawayo to Johannesburg when the accident occurred just before midnight on Tuesday, August 27. The accident has left communities mourning and raised concerns over road safety.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety has attributed the accident to the driver’s unfamiliarity with the route. According to Phuti Lekganyane, the department’s acting spokesperson, the driver was new to the job and lost control of the bus while navigating a roundabout at high speed.
“The bus was en route to Johannesburg from Zimbabwe when the accident happened just before midnight. All the deceased are foreign nationals,” said Lekganyane. “The bus drove over a roundabout — the last traffic circle from Makhado towards Polokwane — at high speed, lost control, and overturned, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several passengers.”
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, and the accident site has since been cleared. Several injured passengers were taken to various hospitals in the area. Violet Mathye, Limpopo’s Member of the Executive Committee (MEC), expressed her deep sadness over the loss of life and sent her condolences to the bereaved families. She also wished a speedy recovery to those who were hospitalized.
In a statement, Mathye conveyed her grief: “Limpopo’s MEC Violet Mathye has learned with sadness about the deaths of 10 passengers who perished in a bus accident near the 3-mile marker on the N1 around Makhado. The bus was en route to Johannesburg from Zimbabwe when the accident occurred just before midnight. All the deceased are foreign nationals. Reports indicate the bus drove over a roundabout at high speed, lost control, and overturned, killing and injuring its passengers.”
The N1 highway, a critical commercial route connecting Zimbabwe with the rest of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has earned a reputation for being a dangerous stretch of road. This latest accident highlights the significant risks associated with reckless driving and the need for thorough training and familiarization for drivers on such routes.
The Zimbabwean community in South Africa and back home is deeply affected by the tragedy, with many families anxiously seeking information about their loved ones. The Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa is actively collaborating with local authorities to identify the victims and offer support to their families.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives,” said a Zimbabwean embassy official. “We are working tirelessly to provide assistance to the families of the victims, including repatriation of bodies and consular support.”
As the investigation continues, there are growing calls for improved road safety measures, stricter driver training requirements, and increased awareness about the dangers of high-speed driving, especially on unfamiliar routes. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of inadequate preparation and the critical need for vigilance on the road.