Two buses heading from South Africa to Zimbabwe were impounded in Limpopo Province on Sunday for being overloaded.
Violet Mathye, MEC for Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo, warned that overcrowding is becoming all too common in a province already struggling with fatal cross-border bus accidents.
In the early hours, the Zebediela Traffic Control Centre (ZTCC) pulled over the two buses, along with more than 20 other vehicles, for serious road safety breaches.
The first bus, licensed to carry 63 passengers, was crammed with 72 adults and 10 children, a total of 82 people, on its way from Durban to Zimbabwe.
The second bus, allowed to carry 70 adults, was found with 67 adults and 12 children (79 passengers) travelling from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe.
Alongside the buses, over 20 light delivery and heavy vehicles with unsafe trailers were also detained for endangering lives. Said Mathe:
“I commend our officers for their diligence in keeping Limpopo’s roads safe.
“However, we urge other provinces to strengthen inter-provincial cooperation with law enforcement.
“It is unacceptable for buses to travel from as far as KZN only to be stopped in Limpopo – enforcement must start at the source.”
On Wednesday, 17 December 2025, a north‑bound cross-border bus was stopped at the Mantsole Traffic Control Centre (TCC) weighbridge.
Officials found the bus was overloaded on both the front and rear axles, with its gross vehicle mass exceeding the legal limit by 5 640 kg. As a result, an overloaded‑vehicle summons was issued.
The bus was carrying over 90 passengers, mostly women and children, well above its licensed capacity of 65 seats. It had been travelling from Gauteng to Malawi.
The vehicle was declared unroadworthy and stayed at Mantsole TCC until the operator could arrange alternative transport for the passengers.
Just a day earlier, on 16 December, authorities had screened 62 cross-border buses, issuing 26 overloading charges.
More: The Citizen
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