The N1 North in Limpopo, South Africa, has once again been the site of tragedy, as a second fatal bus accident in just five days claimed the lives of five people traveling from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe. The accident occurred on Sunday evening near the Nyl Plaza, just outside Mokopane.
The Tamuka Luxury bus, carrying passengers bound for Zimbabwe, overturned along the N1 North, resulting in the deaths of one woman and four men around 5:30 pm. Scores of passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were transported to hospitals in Mokopane.
“Scores of passengers sustained injuries of varying degrees in the process and have been taken to hospitals in Mokopane,” said Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye.
This tragedy comes only five days after another bus accident on the N1 near Makhado claimed the lives of 10 Zimbabwean nationals. The Mzansi Express bus, traveling from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, to Johannesburg, overturned after reportedly driving over a roundabout at high speed.
“According to reports, the bus drove over a roundabout (the last traffic circle from Makhado towards Polokwane) at high speed. It lost control and overturned, killing and injuring its passengers,” said spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene.
The Mzansi Express bus driver was reportedly new to the job and unfamiliar with the route. Among the victims was a couple who had come to Zimbabwe to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary and their 3-year-old son.
Following the Makhado accident, Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa visited the scene and confirmed that the South African government is collaborating with the Zimbabwean government to repatriate the bodies of the deceased.
MEC Mathye has expressed deep concern over the recent spate of accidents involving cross-border public transport operators and has called on bus companies to ensure their drivers are adequately trained and well-rested to avoid fatigue-related incidents.
“These accidents are affecting cross-border public transport operators,” said Mathye. “We need to ensure that our drivers are well-rested and competent to operate these vehicles.”
The recent accidents have underscored the risks faced by cross-border traders, who frequently rely on buses for their livelihoods. The loss of life in these accidents is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with this profession.
Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, three separate accidents on Saturday claimed 20 lives, including 11 in a head-on collision on the R622 between Greytown and Mooi River in the Midlands.