Speeding and mechanical failure caused DNC bus accident

The South African Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, and her deputy, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, have received a preliminary investigation report from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) into the horrific Limpopo bus crash that claimed 43 lives and left dozens injured on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

The accident occurred along the N1 North near Limpopo and involved a bus travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to Harare, Zimbabwe, carrying passengers from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the RTMC's preliminary findings, speeding and mechanical failure were the main contributing factors to the crash. Investigators revealed that the driver was travelling at an unsafe speed while descending a mountain pass. Mechanical assessments later found that only five of the ten brakes on the bus and its trailer were functional, while one brake had completely failed. The trailer's suspension system was also found to have been poorly repaired.

This meant the bus and trailer were operating at only half of their braking capacity. The report concluded that the vehicle was not roadworthy and that the driver was aware of the defects but had adapted his driving to compensate for them.

Further investigations revealed that the bus was overloaded, carrying 91 passengers despite being licensed to carry only 62. Among them were 11 children aged between three and five years. When applying national traffic regulations - where two children between three and six years count as one adult - the bus was still overloaded by 23 passengers. The attached trailer was also heavily packed with baggage and personal belongings.

The RTMC confirmed that 43 passengers died, while 34 sustained serious injuries and six suffered minor injuries. Eight passengers refused medical treatment and left the scene before their details could be recorded.

Weather and road conditions were ruled out as contributing factors. Investigators found that visibility was clear at the time of the accident, the N1 road surface was in good condition, and all warning signage was adequate.

The RTMC's preliminary report recommends stricter law enforcement operations to ensure that all foreign-registered vehicles entering South Africa are thoroughly inspected for roadworthiness and overloading. It also calls for greater focus on heavy vehicles descending steep passes to ensure compliance with speed regulations and warning signs.

Minister Creecy has directed the RTMC to further investigate the bus company's role in the tragedy, including whether it met its legal obligations to ensure the vehicle's roadworthiness. The Minister also instructed the corporation to consider a culpable homicide charge against the operator.

In addition, the RTMC has been tasked to obtain the bus's maintenance and service records, identify the testing centre that issued its roadworthy certificate, and work with the Anti-Corruption Unit to determine whether irregularities occurred during certification.

The Department of Transport will liaise with provincial law enforcement agencies to ensure mandatory inspections of all DNC Coach fleet vehicles entering South Africa through border posts.

The RTMC investigation remains ongoing and is expected to take 21 weeks to complete. The final technical reconstruction report will include a detailed assessment of how the overloading issue may have been missed at weighbridges along the route.