5 dead, 34 injured as Bulawayo-bound bus crashes in SA

Tragedy struck the N1 highway near Ingwe Lodge, just outside Makhado in South Africa's Limpopo province, when a Zimbabwe-bound bus lost control and plunged down a cliff, killing five people and injuring 34 others early yesterday morning. The crash occurred at approximately 2:50 am and involved a Marcopolo bus travelling from Gauteng to Bulawayo.

The accident unfolded at a sharp, mountainous stretch of road notorious for fatal crashes. Exactly four months ago, 44 people—36 Zimbabweans and eight Malawians—died at the same location under similar circumstances. Authorities have repeatedly warned that the area poses significant risk to motorists, particularly at night.

Limpopo's Member of Executive Committee (MEC) for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Violet Mathye, visited the scene and confirmed that the driver and four passengers, including one woman, died on impact. She reported that four passengers sustained serious injuries, 10 were critically injured, and 18 others suffered minor injuries. All survivors were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

"The road remains closed while emergency services, traffic officers, and investigators work at the scene," Ms Mathye said. "Motorists are advised to use alternative routes and expect delays. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased, and we pray for the swift recovery of those injured."

Preliminary indications suggest the crash was caused by the driver losing control, although a full investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances. The Department of Transport has thanked emergency responders and urged all road users to exercise caution, particularly during night-time travel.

Following the incident, South Africa's Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy, and Deputy Minister Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa directed the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) to develop a road engineering solution to reduce crashes at the dangerous Ingwe Lodge curve. Both officials also requested an update from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) on prior directives to intensify roadworthy inspections of buses crossing the Beitbridge border.

"The preliminary investigation report is expected within 48 hours," said a statement from the National Department of Transport. "Minister Creecy and Deputy Minister Hlengwa extend their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to those admitted to hospital."

The latest crash adds to a worrying pattern of accidents along the N1 highway, a major artery for cross-border traffic between Zimbabwe and South Africa. Only weeks ago, a bus carrying Zimbabwean passengers narrowly avoided a pile-up involving a truck and a light vehicle near Makhado, with only the driver injured.

In October, an overloaded Zimbabwean bus en route from Port Elizabeth to Harare plunged down the same cliff, killing 44 people and injuring 49. That bus carried 91 passengers despite having a seating capacity of 62. Authorities have cited fatigue and long-distance driving without adequate rest as contributing factors in these repeated tragedies.

With an estimated two-thirds of the 15,000 people crossing through Beitbridge Border Post using the N1 highway, transport officials are calling for urgent safety interventions to prevent further loss of life along this perilous stretch.