News / Africa
Ten 'Zimbabweans' killed in SA accident
08 Feb 2012 at 08:57hrs | Views
TEN people, all believed to be Zimbabweans, were killed while 16 others were injured when a minibus they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a haulage truck along the N1 North highway outside Makhado in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the incident occurred yesterday morning near Bandelierkop.
The minibus was travelling from Pretoria to Zimbabwe while the truck was heading towards Polokwane and coming from Zimbabwe.
The South African police spokesperson for Makhado, Captain Maano Sadiki, said the truck driver encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision with the minibus.
Both drivers of the two vehicles were declared dead at the scene.
"The Iveco minibus that was going to Zimbabwe apparently collided head-on with a truck and we have opened a culpable homicide case on the scene. We are already having 10 people on the scene that are no more, eight of whom are men, one woman and a young boy," said Capt Sadiki.
He, however, said the co-driver of the truck was reportedly still in shock while two of the 16 survivors were reportedly in a critical condition.
The survivors were taken to Elim and Louis Trichardt Memorial hospitals. Capt Sadiki said they were now investigating a case of culpable homicide.
"Two of the 16 survivors are in a critical condition and by late evening yesterday, health authorities were considering airlifting the two, who include a pregnant woman," he said.
"We are worried about the two who were critically injured especially the one who is pregnant and doctors are doing what they can to stabilise her to make sure that even if it means airlifting that person to an institution like the Polokwane or Mankweng hospitals, we will have to take that kind of decision. As of now, we are observing them to make sure they get well," Capt Sadiki said.
He could not release the names of the dead, saying they were yet to inform their families.
The N1 highway, which links Zimbabwe and South Africa, has of late turned into a death trap and several Zimbabweans have been killed in accidents occurring along that stretch. Last year in July, 14 Zimbabweans were killed, among them a five-year-old girl, while nine others were seriously injured when a cross-border bus they were travelling in veered off the road before overturning along the same highway outside Makhado.
The accident occurred near Witvlag turnoff, about 7km outside Makhado, formerly Louis Trichardt.
The bus belonging to Trans-Lux Africa, was travelling from Bulawayo and heading towards Johannesburg with 55 passengers on board, including the bus crew.
The latest development also brings back memories of another horrific bus crash that claimed 19 lives of Zimbabweans on the same highway.
The accident occurred in September 2005, about 15km outside Makhado town.
According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the incident occurred yesterday morning near Bandelierkop.
The minibus was travelling from Pretoria to Zimbabwe while the truck was heading towards Polokwane and coming from Zimbabwe.
The South African police spokesperson for Makhado, Captain Maano Sadiki, said the truck driver encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision with the minibus.
Both drivers of the two vehicles were declared dead at the scene.
"The Iveco minibus that was going to Zimbabwe apparently collided head-on with a truck and we have opened a culpable homicide case on the scene. We are already having 10 people on the scene that are no more, eight of whom are men, one woman and a young boy," said Capt Sadiki.
He, however, said the co-driver of the truck was reportedly still in shock while two of the 16 survivors were reportedly in a critical condition.
The survivors were taken to Elim and Louis Trichardt Memorial hospitals. Capt Sadiki said they were now investigating a case of culpable homicide.
"We are worried about the two who were critically injured especially the one who is pregnant and doctors are doing what they can to stabilise her to make sure that even if it means airlifting that person to an institution like the Polokwane or Mankweng hospitals, we will have to take that kind of decision. As of now, we are observing them to make sure they get well," Capt Sadiki said.
He could not release the names of the dead, saying they were yet to inform their families.
The N1 highway, which links Zimbabwe and South Africa, has of late turned into a death trap and several Zimbabweans have been killed in accidents occurring along that stretch. Last year in July, 14 Zimbabweans were killed, among them a five-year-old girl, while nine others were seriously injured when a cross-border bus they were travelling in veered off the road before overturning along the same highway outside Makhado.
The accident occurred near Witvlag turnoff, about 7km outside Makhado, formerly Louis Trichardt.
The bus belonging to Trans-Lux Africa, was travelling from Bulawayo and heading towards Johannesburg with 55 passengers on board, including the bus crew.
The latest development also brings back memories of another horrific bus crash that claimed 19 lives of Zimbabweans on the same highway.
The accident occurred in September 2005, about 15km outside Makhado town.
Source - TC
