Items scattered after a bus crash in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo. Image: Michael Makungo.
(The Post News)– The Limpopo bus crash survivors allege that the driver was speeding recklessly and barely avoided a head-on collision only moments before the bus went off a rocky slope, killing forty-three people.
Authorities believe the accident was caused by overloading and speeding, which the testimonies from the crash survivors support. A 25-year-old Zimbabwean survivor who is still in the hospital recovering, Chaoma Mukondiona, recounted the chaos inside the crowded cross-border bus.
“I saw it with my own eyes. The bus was travelling at high speed, and he was getting into a head-on collision but managed to control the bus,” Mukondiona, one of the bus crash survivors, told The Sowetan. Passengers reportedly scolded the driver after the near-disaster, shouting, “You must drive carefully; we don’t want trouble.”
Crash Survivors Reveal Prior Near Accident
After a near-fatal accident, the driver was reportedly reprimanded by the passengers, who yelled, “You must drive carefully; we don’t want trouble.” Willard Suweni, a Malawian passenger, claimed that following a smoother start, the driver started “overspeeding” in Bloemfontein. A dangerous bend in Limpopo left the passengers in stunned silence just prior to the accident.
According to the bus crash survivors’ stories, the bus was overcrowded with passengers and a trailer on its way from Gqeberha to Malawi. Suweni believes this made steering challenging and ultimately caused the vehicle to tip over, which turned out fatal. Suweni further disclosed that the trailer was left on board despite the bus’s two drivers complaining about malfunctioning brakes earlier in the journey and discussing its removal.
In the meantime, the 43 dead victims are still being identified. The families of the deceased have come to Louis Trichardt’s Makhado Police Station to start identifying their dear ones. Of the 43 bodies, 17 had been identified as of Tuesday. To update relatives on the condition of their loved ones, the police are displaying pictures of the killed and injured.
Post-mortem examinations are anticipated to be completed by pathologists. The Limpopo Department of Health confirmed that 17 survivors are still receiving treatment in hospital for their injuries. Families arriving at the police station to view the images have reportedly refused to speak to the media.
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