Tragedy in South Africa: Bus falls off cliff, 45 people killed

(Patria) - The South African Ministry of Transport announced yesterday that 45 people were killed and one person was injured in a bus accident near Mamatlakala in the northern province of Limpopo.

The ministry stated that the driver lost control of the bus, which then hit the barriers on the bridge, after which the vehicle fell over the bridge, hit the ground, and caught fire, reports Hina.

According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the passengers were pilgrims traveling from Gaborone, the capital of neighboring Botswana.

The accident occurred on the Mamatlakala mountain pass between Mokopane and Marken, where the bus caught fire after falling, SABC reported.

50 PEOPLE FEARED DEAD AFTER A BUS OVERTURNS AT THE BRIDGE ON R518.

GA - MMAMATLAKALA : Scores of people are feared following a horrific bus accident at Ga-Mmamatlakala area between Marken and Mokopane on R518 in the Waterberg District on Thursday morning#LimpopoTraffic pic.twitter.com/8dVGYEcSvN

— Limpopo Traffic Updates (@Limpopo_Traffic) March 28, 2024

South African Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said the government would return the bodies to Botswana.

- I extend my sincere condolences to the families affected by the tragic bus accident near Mamatlakala. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

We continue to call for responsible driving at all times with increased attention as more people are on our roads this Easter weekend - said Chikunga.

Some bodies were burned beyond recognition, and some passengers were trapped in the wreckage of the bus, the Limpopo traffic authorities announced.

An eight-year-old girl who survived the accident was airlifted to the hospital, the public broadcaster reported.