42 dead, including seven children, in Bus crash on N1 in Limpopo

Forty-two people, including seven children, have died in a devastating bus crash on the N1 North near Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, on Sunday evening. The fatal accident occurred when a passenger bus believed to be transporting passengers to Zimbabwe and Malawi overturned after veering off the road along a steep mountain pass.

According to the Limpopo Department of Transport, the crash took place near Ingwe Lodge outside Musina at about 6pm. The DNC Coaches bus, reportedly travelling from Johannesburg en route to Zimbabwe, plunged down an embankment and overturned.

The deceased include 18 women and 17 men. Additionally, six passengers were critically injured, 31 sustained serious injuries, and 12 were slightly injured. The injured were rushed to Louis Trichardt, Siloam, and Elim hospitals. One critically injured child was airlifted to Tshilidzini Hospital for urgent medical care.

Preliminary information suggests the bus had been transporting passengers from the Eastern Cape who were returning to their home countries. The exact cause of the crash remains unknown.

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba is expected to visit the crash site to receive updates from the multi-disciplinary emergency response team on the ground. She will also visit hospitals treating survivors, accompanied by several Members of the Executive Council (MECs).

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy. Losing so many lives in one incident is painful beyond words,” said Ramathuba in a statement. On behalf of the Limpopo Provincial Government, we extend our deepest condolences to the affected families, including those in Zimbabwe and Malawi. We wish a full and speedy recovery to all survivors. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time,” she said.

Crash investigators from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) have been dispatched to the scene to probe the circumstances surrounding the accident. Spokesperson Simon Zwane confirmed the deployment, stating that a thorough investigation is underway to determine what led to the tragic incident.

The provincial government has activated a coordinated response involving the Department of Transport and Community Safety, the Department of Health, and Disaster Management teams. Psychosocial support is being provided to survivors, and liaison efforts with consular services from Zimbabwe and Malawi are ongoing to assist affected families.

The South African Police Service, alongside traffic authorities, has also launched an investigation into the incident.