At least 42 people have been killed after a long-distance bus travelling from South Africa’s Eastern Cape province to Zimbabwe and Malawi crashed in the country’s mountainous north on Sunday evening.
The bus veered off a steep section of the N1 highway near the town of Makhado in Limpopo province, plunging into a deep ravine before landing upside down.
Emergency crews worked through the night to rescue passengers trapped in the wreckage. More than 30 survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals, while several others remain unaccounted for.
Provincial transport official Violet Mathy told local station Newzroom Afrika that among the dead were 18 women, 17 men, seven children, and a 10-month-old baby.
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba, who visited the crash site, described the tragedy as “painful beyond words.” She extended condolences to affected families in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.
“The scale of loss is devastating. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the bereaved families,” she said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but early reports suggest the driver may have lost control due to fatigue or a possible mechanical fault.
Authorities said counselling services are being provided to survivors, while coordination is under way with Zimbabwean and Malawian embassies to help repatriate the victims.
The N1 highway — a key route linking South Africa to Zimbabwe — remains closed as recovery efforts continue.
South Africa’s roads are among the deadliest in the world, with thousands of lives lost annually. Long-distance buses connecting countries in Southern Africa are often involved in serious crashes, raising questions over vehicle maintenance and driver fatigue.
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