A bus accident on the R518 near Mokopane, Limpopo, resulted in 45 fatalities as it travelled from Botswana to Moria.
PLEASE NOTE: This article was updated with a statement from Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
R518 bus accident: Here’s everything we know
On Thursday morning, tragedy struck at Ga-Mmamatlakala mountain when a bus, embarking on a journey from Botswana to Moria, overturned and plummeted off a bridge.
According to the Department of Transport, “it is alleged that the driver lost control, colliding with barriers on the bridge causing the bus to go over the bridge and hitting the ground, where it caught fire.”
“The SAPS continues to provide updates as the rescue and recovery efforts unfold,” the department noted.
This calamity has etched itself as one of the deadliest incidents on South Africa’s roads, particularly poignant during the Easter long weekend—a period notoriously perilous due to the dramatic spike in traffic volume and accidents.
Amid the heartbreak, a glimmer of a miracle emerged as an eight-year-old child, who fortuitously fell from the bus before its catastrophic descent, survived.
In a statement, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga sent her “heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragic bus crash near Mamatlakala.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We continue to urge responsible driving at all times with heightened alertness as more people are on our roads this Easter weekend,” Minister Chikunga said.
Road fatalities and congestion expected this Easter long weekend
The Easter long weekend in South Africa is synonymous with families and holiday-goers flocking to roads leading to various destinations.
Major routes like the N1 to Cape Town, the N2 towards the Garden Route, the N3 to Durban, and the N4 to Mpumalanga become bustling corridors of travel.
This annual increase in vehicles sets the stage for potential hazards, as evidenced by a recent single-vehicle accident on the N3 at Van Reenen’s Pass, critically injuring three amidst wet conditions and dense traffic.
The tragedy on the R518 is not an isolated event but part of a distressing pattern of road incidents.
Two weeks ago, a major pile-up on the N14 injured 24 near Thachfield, and a catastrophic collision between two trucks on the R34 led to a fatality and severe injuries to 24 people.
In light of these tragic events, Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga issued a plea for heightened vigilance on the roads.
“We wish all the families, loved ones and friends strength during this period of deep sorrow. We also wish a speedy return to good health to all the people who sustained injuries during these sad and tragic occurrences,” she said.