Dr Phophi Ramathuba condemns unroadworthy and overloaded bus behind N1 tragedy

The tragic bus crash on the N1 in the Vhembe District was far more than an accident. A report by the Road Traffic Management Corporation revealed that the vehicle had serious faults, it was not roadworthy, carried more passengers than permitted, and was travelling at high speed along a steep stretch of road.

When the bus lost control and plunged down an embankment on 13 October, forty-three people lost their lives and forty others were injured. Most of the victims were foreign nationals returning home to Zimbabwe and Malawi.

During a meeting with grieving families at Siloam Hospital, Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba spoke firmly, calling the incident an outcome of greed and disregard for the law in the cross-border transport sector. She stressed that the government would no longer allow profit and negligence to come before the safety of human lives.

Ramathuba also praised the efforts of emergency workers and medical staff who acted quickly and bravely to save as many lives as possible. Support is being offered to the affected families through counselling and assistance with repatriation, in coordination with the Zimbabwean and Malawian embassies.

The disaster has renewed national concern about road safety and the ongoing problem of overcrowded, unroadworthy long-distance buses. Transport activists have pointed to corruption and weak law enforcement as the main reasons unsafe vehicles continue to operate, putting countless lives at risk.

In closing, Ramathuba urged drivers, passengers, and transport operators to take responsibility on the road. She reminded the public that no life can be replaced and that every journey demands care and accountability to prevent another tragedy like this one.