News / Africa
Bus accident, SA authorities engage independent accident investigators
18 Jul 2011 at 09:24hrs | Views
South African authorities has engaged an independent team of accident investigation and reconstruction specialists is helping in the culpable homicide probe after 12 Malawian nationals died in a road crash in Limpopo.
There was some earlier confusion as to where the bus was coming from with some Sowetan amature journalist claiming that a police officer, who attended to the accident scene, said the bus was ferrying people from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe to Johannesburg.
The journo also said the un-identified officer said the bus was said to have experienced brake failure and one of its tyres burst, resulting in the driver losing control.
She said four of the victims had been identified through their passports as Zimbabwean nationals.
"We have identified four males who died in the accident as Zimbabweans and the other eight victims, including the child, has not yet been identified," the police officer said.
As far as the bus concerned Trans Africa Bus is concerned, it does not ply the Zimbabwe South Africa route, it plies the Malawi South Africa route. SA officials have cleared the air and advised that the bus was coming from Malawi.
It is amazing how South African journalist always try by all means to report negatively about Zimbabwe.
The bus accident happened on the N1 near Louis Trichardt yesterday, leaving 12 dead and 49 injured.
Media reports say the bus overturned when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle when the brakes failed.
The bus was travelling from Malawi, but it is still unclear where it was bound.
"We want to convey condolences to the families of those killed in this tragic road crash, and wish those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during these difficult moments," said Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele.
"We are pleading with everyone to take personally the fight against deaths on our roads and to work together to bring down road deaths during this global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020."
There was some earlier confusion as to where the bus was coming from with some Sowetan amature journalist claiming that a police officer, who attended to the accident scene, said the bus was ferrying people from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe to Johannesburg.
The journo also said the un-identified officer said the bus was said to have experienced brake failure and one of its tyres burst, resulting in the driver losing control.
She said four of the victims had been identified through their passports as Zimbabwean nationals.
"We have identified four males who died in the accident as Zimbabweans and the other eight victims, including the child, has not yet been identified," the police officer said.
As far as the bus concerned Trans Africa Bus is concerned, it does not ply the Zimbabwe South Africa route, it plies the Malawi South Africa route. SA officials have cleared the air and advised that the bus was coming from Malawi.
The bus accident happened on the N1 near Louis Trichardt yesterday, leaving 12 dead and 49 injured.
Media reports say the bus overturned when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle when the brakes failed.
The bus was travelling from Malawi, but it is still unclear where it was bound.
"We want to convey condolences to the families of those killed in this tragic road crash, and wish those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during these difficult moments," said Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele.
"We are pleading with everyone to take personally the fight against deaths on our roads and to work together to bring down road deaths during this global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020."
Source - BuaNews
