At least 40 people died in a horrific bus accident on the N1 freeway outside Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt) in Limpopo Province, South Africa, on Sunday afternoon.
Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye said the victims were Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals travelling back to their home countries from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
Speaking to South African broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Monday, 13 October, Mathye revealed that a 10-month-old baby was among those killed. She said:
“Let me pass my condolences to the two countries that have lost loved ones — Zimbabwe and Malawi.
“We have reported 38 injuries; these are the people who are currently in hospital. They were originally 39, but a 10-month-old baby passed away after being referred to hospital.”
She said that by Monday morning, law enforcement agencies were still at the crash site, with 40 deaths already confirmed. Mathye said:
“There was no other vehicle involved. I am sure the bus lost control. I do not know what caused it — it could be driver fatigue or a mechanical fault that made the bus lose control and go down the ditch. We will only know once the final report is completed.”
The distance between Gqeberha and Harare is more than 2,100 kilometres, and from Harare, the bus was heading to Malawi.
According to the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, the crash happened at around 2 PM on Sunday on the N1 North near Ingwe Lodge in Musina.
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