By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
At least five people have been confirmed dead and dozens injured after a bus plunged into an embankment near Ingwe Lodge outside Makhado in Limpopo.
Fullview learnt that the driver of the bus lost control and crashed into a ditch.
The exact number of fatalities and injuries are expected to be released, as the bus remains in the ditch, making it difficult to determine how many passengers were on board.
Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye says the bus was travelling from Gauteng to Zimbabwe.
Mathye confirmed four people died at the scene and a fifth person died later in hospital. Injured passengers have been transported to Louis Trichardt Memorial, Elim, and Siloam hospitals,” added the MEC.
“I think SANRAL should build a barrier on this curve so that even if an accident occurs, the vehicle will not plunge into the ditch,” she said.
Officials from various departments inspected the crash site on Thursday morning. By 4pm officials could not yet confirm the exact number of passengers onboard.
The latest tragedy adds to mounting concern over long-distance bus safety on South Africa’s highways.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to investigate the cause of the deadly crash.
Creecy has extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones and a speedy recovery to those who were admitted in hospitals.