At least 42 people, including seven children, lost their lives when a passenger bus plunged off a steep road in South Africa’s mountainous Limpopo Province on Sunday evening, regional authorities confirmed. The devastating crash, which occurred along one of the country’s busiest highways, has once again drawn attention to the persistent challenges of road safety in the region.
According to Limpopo provincial officials, 38 passengers survived the accident, though many sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Rescue teams continued to search the crash site on Monday morning, hoping to locate any additional survivors or recover the remains of those still unaccounted for.
Authorities revealed that most of the passengers were nationals of Zimbabwe and Malawi, migrant workers and their families returning home ahead of the end-of-year season. The bus had been traveling north along the N1 highway, roughly 55 miles from the Zimbabwean border, when the driver reportedly lost control on a sharp bend. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged down a deep embankment before overturning multiple times.
The N1 is a crucial transport corridor connecting South Africa with its northern neighbors, and it is frequently used by cross-border buses carrying migrant workers who live and work in South Africa but maintain family ties in neighboring countries. Many of these passengers were believed to be seasonal laborers heading home after months of work in the country’s mining and agricultural sectors.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a tragedy that transcends national boundaries. “This is not only a tragedy for South Africa but also for our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi,” Ramaphosa said in an official statement. “It is compounded by the fact that this incident has taken place during our annual Transport Month, when we place a special focus on the importance of safety on our roads.”
Ramaphosa extended his condolences to the families of the victims and commended the emergency teams who responded swiftly to the scene. The president also called for renewed efforts to enforce road safety regulations and to ensure that long-distance transport operators adhere to proper vehicle maintenance and driver safety standards.
More Than 40 People Killed in Bus Plunge in Limpopo
Limpopo Transport Minister Violet Mathye announced that a full investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the accident. Early reports suggest that poor visibility, excessive speed, or possible mechanical failure could have played a role. The steep terrain and winding roads in the area have been the site of several fatal crashes in recent years, prompting ongoing calls for improved road infrastructure and stricter enforcement of transport regulations.
The bus operator, DNC Coaches, issued a public statement expressing condolences to the families of those who perished. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and extend our heartfelt sympathies to all the families and communities affected,” the company said. DNC Coaches pledged full cooperation with investigators and promised to assist the victims’ families in identifying their loved ones and arranging for the repatriation of remains.
This is not the first time Limpopo Province has been the scene of a catastrophic bus accident. In 2024, 45 people were killed when another passenger bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a ravine in the same province. That tragedy had prompted government promises to improve road safety inspections and driver training programs—efforts that now appear more urgent than ever.
As rescue workers continue to comb through the wreckage, grief grips the communities affected by the crash. For many families in Zimbabwe and Malawi, the journey home for their loved ones has ended in heartbreak, underscoring once again the deadly toll of unsafe roads across southern Africa.
