SOUTH AFRICA – A Mzansi Express bus travelling from Bulawayo to Johannesburg in South Africa has been involved in accident that has claimed the lives of 10 people all thought to be Zimbabweans.
South Africa’s Department of Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo confirmed that the accident took place just before midnight on Tuesday at the 3 mile mark on the N1 around Makhado.
According to Phuti Lekganyane, the acting spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety;
“The bus was en route to Johannesburg from Zimbabwe, when the accident happened just before midnight, on the evening of Tuesday, August 27. All the deceased, five males and five females, are reportedly foreign nationals.
“According to reports, the bus drove over a round-about – the last traffic circle from Makhado towards Polokwane – at high speed, lost control and overturned, killing and injuring its passengers in the process,” said Lekganyane.
“The scene has been cleared, and the injured passengers have been taken to various hospitals in Makhado,” Lekganyane added.
Limpopo MEC Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye “urged motorists to be alert of their surroundings and drive with caution, at all times”.
Below is statement from Mzansi Express on the bus accident
At about 23:50 hours last night (27 August 2024), our bus Registration Number HT73PGGP travelling from Bulawayo bound for Johannesburg was involved in an accident at the Three Mile Circle (Roundabout) in Makhado, South Africa.
There were 67 passengers on board as well as the bus crew. Following this accident, some passengers tragically lost their lives and several others suffered various degrees of injuries.
South African Emergency services attended to the scene and transported the injured and deceased to Makhado and Elim Hospitals for treatment.
We are currently co-operating with law enforcement agents as they attend to the matter. Next of kin members will be notified when all passengers’ individual identifications have been finalized.
We kindly ask for your patience as law enforcement and health service providers work on treating and identifying all passengers both injured and deceased.
The management of Mzansi Express would like to take the opportunity to reassure Zimbabweans that we too are feeling the nation’s shock and pain at this tragic hour.
A more detailed statement will be released in due course as we continue working with the Authorities in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
